EastEnders spoilers: Jack Branning arrest twist leaves viewers utterly puzzled

EastEnders viewers were angry and confused after Jack Branning (played by Scott Maslen) was arrested during tonight’s episode of the hit BBC soap.

After losing control and assaulting Tiffany Butcher‘s rapist, Jack was handcuffed by the police and bundled into the vehicle for his actions as officers insisted they wanted to question him over attacking the evil character.

Denise Fox then refused to give Jack an alibi after the incident.

The pair then broke up when Jack remained shady about his true whereabouts, prompting further suspicion from Denise. 

Tiffany then went to the police to try and keep her beloved uncle safe from jail, and the heartbroken teenager was panicking she would lose another person in her life.

Jack insisted he could cope alone and made his niece promise to think of her own safety and wellbeing.

But unfortunately the reality was that Jack knew he was in deep trouble and there might be no one to help get him out of his sticky situation.

Jack‘s friend at the force warned him the police would be paying him a visit that evening, but Jack didn’t have much time to act.

A devastated Max Branning (Jake Wood) was determined not to lose his brother and begged Jack to do whatever it took to stay free of prison, so the desperate character decided to go on the run.

READ MORE: EastEnders spoilers: Kim Fox exits BBC soap as Tameka Empson has break

Jack packed his bags and was ready to enact his new plan when suddenly his daughter Amy emerged in tears over a nightmare.

It turned out the youngster had been dreaming about her dead mother Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons).

Torn, Jack realised there was no way he could leave his daughter so upset and he waited with her until she fell back asleep.

By the time he realised the time, Jack faced his grim reality when he heard a knock on the door, knowing it was the police.

Leaving Amy on the living room sofa, Jack hung his head and accepted his fate as he was dragged off to the car.

Furious with the twist and puzzled as to why producers would make Jack suffer for trying to avenge his niece and going after her rapist, viewers took to Twitter to complain.

”Jack arrested FFS for sticking up for himself?” One person posted.

Another asked: “Why don’t Jack just say it was self defence, Fraser stabbed him so…”

“Nooo, how’s Jack going to get out of this mess?” A third worried.

EastEnders continues Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.

source: express.co.uk