Coronation Street's Maria Connor jailed for a year and Pat Phelan scam revealed

There's more drama on the cobbles as Coronation Street's Maria Connor will be jailed for a year, it has been reported.

The hairdresser, played by Samia Longchambon, is currently on remand in jail after the nefarious Caz Hammond (Rhea Bailey) faked her own death to make it look as if Maria had killed her. Her imprisonment is in fact down to her sham marriage to Pablo Duarte (Shai Matheson).

A source said: "Maria will be handed a 12-month stretch but she'll be back on the cobbles in the New Year because of good behaviour.

"The scene is set to shock fans as they know she didn't murder Caz but won't see the sham marriage sentence coming," The Sun reports.

The riveting storyline is set to draw comparisons to Deirdre Barlow's wrongful conviction in 1998 for fraud; it sparked a nationwide 'Free the Weatherfield One' campaign which lead to a real-life debate in Parliament with then-prime minister Tony Blair, who promised to intervene.

The source continued: "It will be one of the most shocking court storylines in the soap's history and likened to Deirdre Barlow's wrongful conviction. Usually these plots are arranged to give actors a break but Samia will be seen from time to time in jail and will do some filming."

In shocking scenes, Caz recently set up Maria by entering her flat and leaving blood everywhere, and almost comically planted a pair of the hairdresser's scissors soaked in claret.

Elsewhere in the soap, villain Pat Phelan's scam is revealed to the residents of Weatherfield, and all hell breaks loose.

After several locals trusted £15k of their hard earned cash in the hopeful investment of getting a luxury flat – spearheaded by Phelan and Vinny – it turns out it was all a con and the fraudulent duo have robbed the funds.

Now Todd Grimshaw faces the task of breaking the news to neighbours about what's gone on – and viewers should expect fireworks. Though supported by Billy and Eileen, he calls a meeting at the Rovers, and there will be an uproar.

Coronation Street continues tonight at 8.30pm on ITV.