SLIPPERY Ian Beale had the last laugh in his battle with arch-rival Dotty Cotton before the soap goes off air tomorrow.
The fish-slinging politician was seen smiling smugly tonight as his young enemy was carted off by the police after being arrested – in a sting he organised.
It came hot on the heels of Ian’s son Peter dumping Dotty after the scheming Beale convinced him that him dating Dotty was torturing Bobby, who also has a crush on her.
But it was at the club that things really came to a head, when the police turned up, followed closely by a grinning Ian.
Ruby told Dotty icily: “If they find anything you’re finished.”
She troublemaker was confident she’d be OK, until one cop came over brandishing a holdall full of drugs, telling her: “Don’t forget your bag.”
She replied: “There’s nothing in there” before spotting her tormenter and gasping “Ian” – then trying to make a break for the door.
Dotty was stopped by two cops, with her striking a female officer in the face and sending her bag spinning to the floor.
As her canisters of laughing gas spilled out, Martin Fowler and Ruby were left covering their faces in shock.
And the officer she elbowed wasted little time marching over, saying: “I’m arresting you for the assault of a police officer.
“You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
All the while, bobbing around with glee outside the ladies’ toilets was Ian Beale, who looked happier than he has for years.
He told her: “Dumped and arrested. Not your day, is it?”
Ian and Dotty have been at loggerheads ever since she attempted to blackmail him into getting her the Arches after learning he was responsible for Dennis Rickman’s death.
