logo
Chloe Ayling's undiagnosed condition that ‘explains so much' revealed 8 years after she was kidnapped & put in suitcase

Chloe Ayling's undiagnosed condition that ‘explains so much' revealed 8 years after she was kidnapped & put in suitcase

The Irish Sun05-08-2025
CHLOE Ayling's undiagnosed condition has been revealed eight years after she was kidnapped and put in a suitcase.
A new BBC documentary that aired last night has shed light on the horrific episode as the British model says people still don't believe her story.
9
Chloe revealed in her documentary that she still battles with doubters who claim that she faked her kidnapping
Credit: Social Media Refer to Source
9
Trolls claimed she lacked emotion after she delivered a statement after the shocking ordeal
Credit: BBC
9
Chloe Ayling was held hostage by Lukasz Herba in a house in Italy
When the model was 21, she was drugged and kidnapped after travelling to Milan, Italy, for a photoshoot.
Chloe Ayling has been accused by trolls online of staging her own kidnapping, in a horror which she says "never ends".
The outlandish events she described in addition to her unemotional retelling of the story sparked questions on whether it was all a publicity stunt.
Her heartbreaking documentary - entitled My Unbelievable Kidnapping - poses an interesting new theory.
It takes viewers through the terrifying mission to save the model from Herba's clutches, as well as her appearance on Big Brother just a year after being kidnapped.
Towards the end of the documentary, she receives a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder which she said explained so much - not just about her reactions during her ordeal but about her life before and since.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others, and behave.
"I had a lot of difficulties with communication,' she explains in the documentary, while poring over childhood pictures.
"I'd react in the wrong way. If I was being told off I would smile. I just had the wrong reactions to things.
"My mum would come with me on school trips because I wouldn't be able to say what I wanted or express how I was feeling.
"For ages I just said I'm not an emotional person, but now I realise that no matter now hard I try, I just can't express emotion."
Chilling moment glamour model Chloe Ayling was kidnapped is recreated in first look at show on Big Brother star's ordeal
Trolls claimed she lacked emotion after she delivered a statement from her mother's house.
She emerged from the house with a smile and dressed in a revealing vest top and tiny pair of shorts that seemed at odds with the seriousness of the situation.
Chloe, now 28, has spent years fighting to convince others about what happened.
Upon arriving at the "studio" on that day in 2017, she was driven to a remote warehouse in Truin by Lukasz Herba.
9
She was held in a village in Turin
Credit: Ray Collins - The Sun
9
Police reconstructed the kidnapping as part of their investigation
Credit: Enterprise News and Pictures
Herba was a 30-year-old computer programmer from Oldbury, West Midlands, who held Chloe hostage for a week.
He was eventually arrested and jailed for his crime.
Despite Herba being jailed, the model revealed that she still faces backlash online for speaking out about his crime.
The documentary follows Chloe's recovery from the incident, as well as how she dealt with the scrutiny over a photograph of her shown holding her kidnapper's hand in an Italian village.
Speaking about how she remained so calm in CCTV footage, Chloe said: "I had to get him on side to be able to get out.
"I want to show a victim doesn't have to fit into a typical box to be believed."
A TV series dramatising the event was released on the BBC last year, entitled Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story.
It depicts how she was held in the farm house for six days, while her kidnapper demanded €300,000 (£265,000) in ransom money.
Herba and his brother Michael were eventually arrested though and handed 16-year prison sentences.
9
Chloe was a successful model before the kidnapping
Credit: chloeayling97/Instagram
9
Chloe appeared on Big Brother a year after the kidknapping
Credit: Rex Features
9
She says the fallout from the kidnapping 'never ends'
Credit: Refer to Caption
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Strictly star George Clarke reveals he's dating a stunning lingerie model – hours before signing up to show
Strictly star George Clarke reveals he's dating a stunning lingerie model – hours before signing up to show

The Irish Sun

time2 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

Strictly star George Clarke reveals he's dating a stunning lingerie model – hours before signing up to show

STRICTLY star George Clarke seemingly revealed he's dating a stunning lingerie model - only hours before his involvement was confirmed. The social media personality, 25, was unveiled as the sixth name to sign up for Strictly this year. 4 Social media personality George Clarke is set to star in Strictly Credit: PA 4 Fans claimed George confirmed his romance with a stunning lingerie model Credit: Instagram 4 George previously said joining Strictly hadn't "quite sunk in yet" Credit: Instagram Fans claimed on Reddit that George confirmed he was dating lingerie model Yasmin Amelia during a live stream on social media. One wrote: "Caught me off guard because he is a very private person specially about his dating/love life. "Even on the pod he has expressed his desire to keep things private and off socials. "Often relies on the 'can't talk to women'/catfish story to dodge specific relationship questions. "Wonder whose idea it really was to all of a sudden hard launch his month and a half long relationship?" The Sun contacted George's reps for comment. Meanwhile, the fan continued by saying they saw clips from George's live stream and that he'd said the name "Yasmin A." They added: "[He] confirmed he follows her insta and requested to give her space to be her own person." Another remarked: "I heard about this on his stream and i'm genuinely happy for him!" While a third chimed in: "I don;t think he expected to do it that way on stream but it felt so natural that he did it. Strictly signs first drag act for 2025 series "But he said only said her name and how they met but he did say he will be keeping it private but u might see her in pictures etc." George is one of several famous faces confirmed for Strictly in recent days. Gladiators star Nitro - real name Harry Aikines Aryeetey - was the first to be unveiled. Further names include Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Balvinder Sopal. Chris Robshaw, La Voix and Ellie Goldstein will also be heading to the BBC show's dance floor. George, who hosts the Useless Hotline podcast, shared his exciting Strictly news on BBC Radio 1's Going Home show. The star - also known as George Clarkey - said: "It hasn't quite sunk in yet, it doesn't feel real," he said, revealing he found out two months ago. Strictly 2025 rumoured line-up The following stars are rumoured to be taking part in Strictly - plus scroll to see who has been confirmed Angellica Bell: A familiar face on British television, Angellica is a seasoned TV presenter known for her work on shows like CBBC and The One Show. She's no stranger to reality TV, having recently appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. Paul C. Brunson: The charismatic relationship expert and matchmaker from Married At First Sight UK, Paul is known for his insightful advice and warm personality. Swapping the sofa for the samba, he's tipped to bring a touch of class and intelligence to the competition. Vicky Pattison: A reality TV stalwart who first found fame on Geordie Shore, Vicky has successfully transitioned into a presenter and author. Having supported her friend Pete Wicks on the show last year, it seems she's ready to put on her own dancing shoes. Ashley Cain: Former footballer and reality TV star from Ex on the Beach, Ashley has more recently become known for his incredible charity work and campaigning. Stacey Solomon: Known for her down-to-earth charm and successful BBC shows like Sort Your Life Out, fans are eager to see if she can translate her infectious energy to the ballroom. Georgia Toffolo: Best known as "Toff" from Made in Chelsea and for winning I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017, Georgia is a seasoned reality TV star. Thomas Skinner: The lively entrepreneur who became a fan favourite on The Apprentice in 2019, Thomas is known for his larger-than-life personality and catchphrase "Bosh!". Despite admitting to no dancing experience, he's reportedly "up for giving it his best shot." Tom Parker Bowles: The renowned food writer and critic, and son of Queen Camilla, is a surprising but intriguing name on the rumour list. A regular on MasterChef, it remains to be seen if his culinary precision translates to ballroom finesse. Sir Mo Farah: The legendary Olympic long-distance runner is considered a national treasure. Balvinder Sopal: The talented actress known for her role as Suki Panesar in EastEnders, Balvinder would follow a long line of successful soap stars on Strictly. Jake Brown: The winner of The Traitors series three, Jake's name has emerged as a potential contestant. Stefan Dennis: The actor, 66, has played six-times married Ramsay Street lothario Paul Robinson since the first episode in 1985 and now the soap is coming to an end, his schedule is clear. Confirmed Strictly 2025 stars: Ellie Goldstein - Vogue cover model Ellie is the first contestant with Down syndrome to take part in a full Strictly series. As well as her modelling work, she is known for CBBC. George Clarke - Social media star George was the sixth person to be revealed. The influencer isn't the first YouTube star to appear, and follows Saffron Barker and Joe Suggs, Balvinder Sopal - The soap star is the latest EastEnders cast member to sign up to the show. The actress is known for playing Walford matriarch Suki Panesar. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: The former Premier League football striker, famous for his time at Leeds and Chelsea, is another sporting name being linked. Alex Kingston - Actress Alex has joined the line-up and his hoping to emulate the success of her friend Sarah Hadland last year. She is best known for shows like Doctor Who, EastEnders and ER. Dani Dyer: Rising to fame as the winner of Love Island in 2018, Dani has remained in the public eye with various TV appearances. The daughter of actor Danny Dyer, she's reportedly agreed to take part. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey: Known as "Nitro" from the BBC's Gladiators reboot and a former Team GB sprinter, Harry has already shown off some moves on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. "It's been quite a lot of biting my tongue." In a BBC press release, George added: "Never thought I'd say this... but I'm doing Strictly! "Honestly, I've got no idea what I'm doing but I'm excited to get stuck in ... and potentially fall over a fair bit." Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and iPlayer.

Illegal immigrant who taunted Brits on TikTok fled Germany for ‘soft touch' Britain after travelling from Afghanistan
Illegal immigrant who taunted Brits on TikTok fled Germany for ‘soft touch' Britain after travelling from Afghanistan

The Irish Sun

time2 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

Illegal immigrant who taunted Brits on TikTok fled Germany for ‘soft touch' Britain after travelling from Afghanistan

AN illegal migrant who taunted Brits on TikTok from his taxpayer-funded hotel room fled Germany for 'soft-touch' Britain. The Sun told yesterday how he racked up a million views by boasting of crossing the Channel by dinghy, saying: 'Tell your friends to come.' 9 The TikTok asylum seeker smirking on dinghy to the UK on Saturday 9 The illegal migrant shared social posts wearing a balaclava 9 He is also seen in photos from his travels to France He posted a step-by-step guide to reaching the UK before hosting a Q&A in the Afghan dialect Pashto. Today we can reveal he swapped stays in Germany and France — two safe countries — to reach 'soft-touch' Britain, one of 434 boat arrivals on Saturday. The man, using the online handle Alexandra420, was moved to a hotel near Heathrow from where he shared eight clips encouraged others to make the journey. It also emerged that months before coming here, he warned Afghan asylum seekers they could be sent home from Germany. READ MORE ON ILLEGAL MIGRANTS STOP THE BOASTS Migrant LIVE STREAMS step by step channel crossing & boasts from hotel Following our investigation, TikTok has taken down his account for promoting people-smuggling. Last night Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted: 'This illegal immigrant had multiple opportunities to claim asylum in other European countries before choosing to come here. 'The Home Office and police should be urgently investigating this man for encouraging others to enter the UK illegally and producing a step-by-step guide showing them how to cross. 'Facilitating illegal immigration is a criminal offence. Enough is enough. "Everyone crossing the Channel illegally by small boat must be removed either to their home country or a safe third country. The Labour government need to get a grip of this crisis.' Mr Philp called for the return of the Rwanda deportation scheme, proposed by the Tories under Boris Johnson and dropped by Sir Keir Starmer on Day One of his premiership. Small boat migrants given taxpayer-funded days out including dinghy trips & £1 Prem tickets as farcical perks exposed Since then, 50,716 migrants have entered on a small boat — including 445 on Tuesday. Removals to Afghanistan have been paused since the Taliban seized control in 2021. It meant the TikTok influencer knew when entering the UK that he would likely not be deported. 9 He poses for a picture at Berlin's Altes Museum 9 Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp says 'enough is enough' Credit: PA He is believed to have stayed in Germany for a substantial time. But he decided to seek better benefits in Britain after posting about a plan by far-right party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) to deport all illegal migrants. It would have seen the mass return of asylum seekers had the party won February's elections. The current German government is also exploring deporting failed asylum seekers to nations other than their home country. Everyone crossing the Channel illegally by small boat must be removed either to their home country or a safe third country Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp Mocking taxpayers The influencer posted a video of AfD firebrand leader Alice Weidel, in which she claimed: 'The Afghans are a nation that grew up in a war-torn environment. 'We know this fact and we do not deny it. But it does not matter to me where they came from or what conditions they grew up in. 'When they reach Germany, they must respect the laws, customs and culture of this country. young people who appear in German streets in military uniforms…they are clearly from the battlefield, not from the borders of Europe. 'I say this as a warning, not a threat. Learn the civil attitude. Otherwise, perhaps where you came from is more suitable for you.' The asylum seeker wrote of the video: 'Listen to this woman's speech, and indeed, she has spoken what she means. 'This law will be applied to Afghans at the earliest opportunity.' In shared social posts he poses in front of Berlin's Altes Museum, and in a keffiyeh headdress. In another he showed off the city's Alexanderplatz. In a third he sits in front of a bridge in a blue t-shirt, jeans and trainers. He captioned the photo with a location pin emoji, the French flag, and wrote: 'France'. Another photo shows him at an unidentified train station platform wearing a black puffer jacket with cream cargo trousers. We can also reveal he changed his TikTok bio after entering the UK to include a British flag — mocking taxpayers stumping up billions to put up 32,000 people in around 210 migrant hotels. In his 45-minute Q&A session, livestreamed on TikTok on Tuesday, he told his 70,000 followers: 'Finally, I left Germany. Then they moved me into France.' Later, he attempted to make a sarcastic joke by claiming he had not come from Germany — despite admitting it multiple times. A follower asked: 'Brother, have you been to Berlin or not?' The man replied: 'Yes – oh, no, no, I haven't been there, brother. I've never been to Berlin.' He then laughed for several seconds before adding: 'And I've never lived in Germany. Not for one second.' 9 The illegal migrant posted a step-by-step guide to crossing the Channel on a small boat Credit: Tiktok 9 He showed TikTok fans his view from the window of his asylum hotel Credit: Tiktok 9 He also took part in a live Q&A with his followers Appearing to admit he had been rejected for asylum in mainland Europe, he went on: 'What should I do in a country that rejects me? 'I didn't get acceptance, I got nothing. I'm crazy to live there?' Referring to Britain's generous perks, he said: 'There's nothing there. Only here.' Later, in the livestream, he admitted: 'Everything in the story is about acceptance. 'There is no need for my attention there (in Germany) anymore. 'I came from a faraway place, aboard a ship.' Finally, I left Germany. Then they moved me into France After arriving in Dover, he was taken to the processing centre at Manston, Kent, and given standard-issue clothes, some of which he appears to wear in the video. He was then transferred to the Crowne Plaza near Heathrow. The hotel is a stopover for many asylum seekers before switch to more permanent accomodation. Yesterday more migrants came and went from the hotel, which is contracted by the Home Office after previosuly operating as a four-star stopover for holidaymakers and businesspeople. A TikTok spokeswoman said yesterday: 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to content promoting human smuggling, this account has been banned and we remove the vast majority of content before it is even reported. 'Through industry-leading search interventions and close collaboration with the UK National Crime Agency, we work to identify and disrupt organised immigration crime online, adapting our efforts to meet evolving threats.' A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'It is our longstanding policy not to comment on operational matters or individual cases.' 9 The man, using the online handle Alexandra420, was moved to the Crowne Plaza hotel near Heathrow Credit: Dan Charity BBC edit for 'xenophobia' THE BBC was yesterday forced to apologise after a Radio 4 programme branded fears about illegal migrants as 'xenophobic'. A guest singled out Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick for saying he did not want his children 'sharing a neighbourhood with men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally.' On Thought for the Day, Dr Krish Kandiah said: 'These words echo a fear — fear of the stranger. The technical name is xenophobia.' Jenrick slammed the comments and the BBC edited the show. It said: 'While its reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective is broadly in line with expectations of the programme, some of the language it used went beyond that and we apologise.'

‘Get the statue changed' – British actress Joanna Lumley criticises Molly Malone statue after filming in Dublin
‘Get the statue changed' – British actress Joanna Lumley criticises Molly Malone statue after filming in Dublin

Irish Independent

time34 minutes ago

  • Irish Independent

‘Get the statue changed' – British actress Joanna Lumley criticises Molly Malone statue after filming in Dublin

Ms Lumley is most known for her portrayal of the renegade Patsy Stone in BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous between 1992 and 2012. She made the claims while promoting season 2 of hit Netflix series Wednesday, which was filmed entirely in Ireland and stars American actor Jenna Ortega as the protagonist. The statue, located beside St Andrew's Church on Dublin's Suffolk Street, was erected 37 years ago and is an ode to a fabled young local woman named Molly Malone who wandered the city with her wheelbarrow selling cockles. She was made famous by the ballad Sweet Molly Malone, written in the late nineteenth century. However, Ms Lumley was not quite drawn in by the charming folklore tale surrounding the young Dublin woman affectionately known by locals as 'The Dolly with the Trolley' and 'The Flirt win the Skirt'. "Do you know why it is all wrong? If you listen to the song, she was a little beautiful, but thin, undernourished ill Irish girl who was a fishmonger's daughter and she pushed her little wheelbarrow and she got really ill and she died of a fever,' she told TodayFM. "What is this brazen hussy doing with her dress all down to here and the big tits out? The statue is wrong. "Get the statue changed!' The statue has been at the centre of frequent criticism in recent years as tourists are seen regularly seen posing for photos while groping her breasts. Stewards were put in place by Dublin City Council (DCC) for a one-week pilot scheme in May to stop people from performing the lewd act. Some DCC councillors had suggested building flower beds around the statue as an alternative method of preventing people from touching her.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store