Reality TV stars and criminal lovers - from acid attack to fraudster ex

Daily Mirror

8 hours ago

Despite their seemingly glitzy lives on screen, plenty of UK reality stars have found themselves embarking on romances with criminals with dark pasts, including acid attack crimes and drug dealing charges
From TOWIE to Love Island, some of our favourite UK reality stars have fallen for partners with the darkest of criminal pasts.
Behind the seemingly glamorous lives of some of these reality TV stars, lies relationships that have turned sour over the years after horrifying crimes and dodgy pasts came to light. On Monday, it was revealed that Ferne McCann's ex-boyfriend and the father of her daughter Sunday, seven, has struck up a romance with ex-Love Islander Amelia Peters.
‌
The thug is serving 20 years behind bars after launching an acid attack on 16 people in a nightclub, leaving them with chemical burns. Here, we take a look at some of the reality stars who have been caught dating criminals.
‌
Ferne McCann
Former TOWIE star Ferne McCann, 34, was left devastated when her partner Arthur Collins, 32, went on the run from police after launching an acid attack in a nightclub while she was pregnant in 2017.
Collins was sentenced to 20 years behind bars after police caught him in Northamptonshire, where he fled in the wake of the horrific assault. Ferne dumped him immediately, and gave birth to their daughter Sunday later that year.
He injured 22 people when he threw a corrosive substance in Mangle E8 nightclub. He claimed he thought it was a date rape drug at the time, with 16 people suffering serious burns.
Now, former Love Islander Amelia Peters has struck up a romance with the criminal behind bars. It's claimed Collins contacted Amelia last October when checking out her Instagram profile.
He has sent her bouquets and she regularly visits him in prison, it is said.
‌
A source added: "They talk all the time - despite the fact he's in jail. He's got a phone they speak on and he's sent her flowers a number of times."
Shaughna Phillips
Love Island star Shaughna Phillips recently announced her pregnancy to fans. The star is expecting her second child with Billy Webb, who is still serving time in an open prison.
‌
Billy, who is also the father of her first child Lucia, was sentenced to nine years in prison pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply 4.5 kilograms of cocaine worth at least £360,000. He served 12 months.
As Billy had day releases from the open prison, TV personality Shaughna has been able to enjoy family days out with him over the last seven months. The 30-year-old star only recently announced her pregnancy via her social media channels on Sunday morning.
She exclusively told the Mirror: "We're so happy to announce we are adding to our little family. Lucia is going to be the best big sister and is really excited to have a new baby brother or sister arrive later this year."
‌
Lauren Goodger
TOWIE original Lauren, 38, began dating Joey Morrison in 2017, while he was serving a 16-year prison sentence.
Morrison, 38, was jailed in 2010 for dressing as a postman to burgle properties, after police found him in possession of £60,000 of cocaine and a £90,000 Land Rover.
‌
In 2018, shortly before his release from prison, Lauren dumped him, accusing him of sending female "fans" explicit snaps from his grotty jail cell.
Gemma Collins
Gemma Collins, 44, first dated Stephen Mortimer in 2016. Stephen was jailed for two years in October 2016 for stealing jewellery in a home raid, just months after he had split from the reality TV favourite.
‌
He has had a fair few brushes with the law and was famously sent back to jail while Gemma was in Celebrity Big Brother. Stephen had allegedly breached licence terms by moving in with the CBB star at the time.
He had previously spent two years in prison for grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Amy Childs
‌
Another TOWIE favourite Amy Childs, 35, welcomed her first child Polly, eight, with convict Bradley Wright in 2017. Wright is a builder who has a criminal record and has served two stints in jail and time in a Young Offender Institution.
He and Amy first struck up a romance back in 2013 but split in 2015. They rekindled their romance in March 2016.
Wright was sentenced to 18 months in prison for handling stolen goods in 2014. He already had a criminal record having received a sentence of 16 months at Basildon Crown Court, Essex, in 2013, for three counts of theft.
‌
In 2010 he spent 19 months in a Young Offender Institution for burglary, handling stolen goods and driving offences. Amy revealed that she suffered from a breakdown when he went to prison at the time.
Dani Dyer
Dani Dyer famously dated Sammy Kimmence before her appearance on Love Island, and rekindled their relationship in 2020. The couple have a son together, who was born in 2021.
‌
But Dani, 28, was left heartbroken when the former stockbroker was jailed for defrauding £34,000 out of two pensioners. He took money from the two men, aged 81 and 91, claiming he would invest it by placing horse-racing bets.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard he instead spent the money paying off his own debts and funding his lifestyle. He was handed a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence in 2021.
Dani split from the conman later that year after she claimed he had lied to her about his crimes.