What happened to Dani Dyer's ex and convicted conman Sammy Kimmence?

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Dani Dyer is just days away from marrying England international Jared Bowen, but before the West Ham star, the reality star dated convicted conman Sammy Kimmence, who is the father of her first child
Dani Dyer had a turbulent relationship with her convicted con artist boyfriend, Sammy Kimmence, after leaving the Love Island villa. Despite appearing as though they were loves young dream, cracks in their relationship started to appear. Dani and Sammy rekindled their romance after the breakdown of her relationship with Jack Fincham, with whom she won the ITV2 reality show.
But the former couple went on to reach a major milestone when the reality star announced she was pregnant. The couple went on to welcome their son, Santiago, just months before Sammy found himself in trouble with the law.
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But as Dani officially moves on with her wedding to West Ham and England star Jarrod Bowen just around the corner, who did Dani leave behind?
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Dani and Sammy
The Love Island winner and Sammy had an on-off relationship that predated her appearance on the ITV reality show back in 2019. Once Dani entered the show, it seemed she would be destined for a life with Jack Fincham as they charmed the nation into winning the show with their relatable and seemingly perfect relationship.
But outside of the Spanish sun, their relationship wasn't the same, with the couple calling it quits in April 2019, shortly after the show came to an end. Not too long after Dani and Sammy rekindled their old flame being captured having a cheeky kiss in Chelsea.
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From there, it looked as though Dani would reignite the spark with the amateur footballer and former stockbroker - something her legendary actor dad wasn't too happy about, reportedly not approving of their relationship at first.
But despite any criticism the pair seemed happier than ever, often sharing snaps from holidays abroad and lavish nights out. But their relationship would take another leap forward in July 2020, when the couple announced Dani was pregnant.
But with their son Santiago due to be born the following January, the couple had little idea of the looming trouble that was coming.
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A run-in with the law
Just months after Santiago was born, Sammy found himself in serious trouble when he posed as a financial advisor and swindled two elderly men out of their savings. The victims, a 91-year-old and an 81-year-old who suffers from Alzheimer's, had been clients at one of Kimmence's former workplaces.
The company would place bets on behalf of their customers, but once the business had gone into liquidation, Kimmence took the money from the clients, claiming he would invest it by placing horse-racing bets, but instead took more than £34,000 from them to splash out on his luxury lifestyle.
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At the trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, the jury heard how Kimmence splashed out on designer clothes, paid for restaurant bills, paid off his overdraft, and went on an Ibiza holiday, all while one of his victims was left struggling 'on the breadline'.
Prosecutor Mike Mason said: "This was a very unpleasant fraud against two men who Mr Kimmence deliberately targeted. He targeted them because they were old, they were vulnerable and somewhat isolated. This wasn't something he migrated into from a friendship. This was something he planned."
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He was found guilty and handed a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence, leaving Dani to raise Santiago on her own. He was also ordered to pay back almost £55,000, with some of his pricey designer outfits used to settle the bill.
The aftermath
Sammy is thought to have misled Dani about his crimes, claiming they were "not that serious" and telling her he was only facing a more minor suspended sentence.
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However, after learning the truth about his dodgy dealings, she ended their relationship, making the brave decision to focus on life as a single parent. At the time, a source told The Sun: 'Sammy led Dani to believe he hadn't done anything too serious and that he would get a suspended sentence.
"Now she knows the full horror of what he did. She is broken, she feels desperately sorry for the two men he scammed and whose lives he ruined. Dani feels utterly stupid for ever believing Sammy and is totally overwhelmed.'
'Dani knows she has to make some massive changes in her life but is so distraught that she needs time to think things through," she added: "Her baby boy Santi is the only thing that matters now."
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After serving more than a year behind bars Sammy was released and was reunited with their son who was captured beaming and clapping his hands alongside his father, who is also smiling from ear-to-ear.
Dani's new life
Since her breakup with the convicted con man, Dani focused on herself before a chance run-in with her future husband, Jarrod Bowen, in 2021. The two fell upon each other when they were neighbours, with the West Ham star often taking in parcels for her. Not being much of a football fan, she had no idea who he was, but she knew she fancied him.
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Remembering those early days, she said: "He knocked on my door a couple of times because my parcels went there. I remember the first time I opened the door, and I didn't know this was Jarrod Bowen, right? And he was hot! Blue eyes, blonde hair, very like a bit of me. And I was like 'Oh, thanks'."
Since then the pair have been serving up serious couple goals with Dani surprising fans at the start of 2023 when she and Jarrod revealed they were expecting twins and just a few months later on May 25, the new mum announced they'd been born with some cute baby photos.
Today, the pair will take the next step, officially tying the knot at the Bridgerton-themed wedding in the English countryside.