Coronation Street star Chris Harper has warned that his character Nathan will be "even more clever and more manipulative" when he returns to Weatherfield next month.
The character is back on the street more than six years after he was locked up for sexually abusing Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) during a year-long grooming and coercive control storyline.
In upcoming episodes, Bethany is shocked to learn that her abuser has been let out of jail and becomes convinced that he is responsible for the disappearance - and possible murder - of teenager Lauren (Cait Fitton).
"I really don't think prison has reformed him in the slightest, in some ways I think he's even more clever and more manipulative," said Harper.
"He's hardened, he's aware that he can take a kicking and he's aware of the advantages of getting other people into trouble so he plays people off against the law.
"He's hardened, he's trickier, he's starting again so the stakes are higher for him because he knows if he makes one mistake he'll be back inside. He's furious at having got caught rather than being repentant."
He continued: "He's always on the lookout for more opportunities to exploit, he's very proud of his ability to adapt and his ability to prod and poke at people. Give him half an inch and he'll take a mile.
"He will spot weaknesses in people and capitalise on them for his own ends. I think if anything he's got even better at that."
Six years down the line from their last encounter, Bethany is now a much stronger woman - but Harper believes that Nathan still has some sort of a grip on her.
"He knows the power is with him, he knows that she's more frightened of him than he needs to be of her," he explained. "He'll go searching for a bit of power and when they do meet he finds that because it's a horrible situation that Bethany finds herself in.
"I think he tries to stamp his authority and it doesn't work as well as it did and that catches him off guard momentarily. She's definitely grown up, she's been through a lot but she's been lucky enough to be supported by family and friends and there's a strength she can find in that, so even when she's faced with the snake she can stand up to it a bit.
"He's not used to that, so not being able to push her over any more means he'll move on pretty quickly. But I imagine he'll spend a lot of time loitering and making his presence felt."
Coronation Street continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. body check tags ::
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