James Argent's ex Nicoline Artursson slams his ‘controlling ex' and says ‘there was one too many in relationship'
JAMES Argent's ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson has hit out at his "controlling ex" for causing major issues with their ill-fated relationship.
In an 800-word statement, Nicoline finally spoke in depth about the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of Argent last month.
5
5
5
The Swedish beauty queen was injured after being pushed down steps outside the home they shared in Spain.
He was arrested and spent several hours in police cells before admitting a charge of domestic violence in court.
Now, Nicoline has claimed former Towie star Lydia Bright was an unwelcome, interfering presence during their year together.
She said: 'I felt there were too many people in our relationship: me, my boyfriend and his ex. 'Three's a crowd', they say.
'I asked so many times if we could be just the two of us, but the answer was a strong NO.
'I experienced what I can only describe as targeted emotional distress which he allowed to continue.'
Nicoline continued: 'After being together for one year my boyfriend finally promised me that he would have boundaries.
'He would put a stop to all that had been going on for months.
'But he didn't. Instead he broke the promise and her controlling behaviour continued. The rest is history.'
Argent and Lydia's love story started off screen nearly two decades ago when they were teens and their drama-filled romance made legendary TV on the ITVBe show - gripping viewers with its constant twists and turns.
Domestic abuse - how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
Emotional abuse - Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
Threats and intimidation - Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
Physical abuse - This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
Sexual abuse - Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night
Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244
Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428
If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
They split in 2012, and Argent was accused of calling her a "sl*t" in text messages after learning she'd slept with someone else following their separation.
Despite this, they have maintained a close friendship and Lydia views Argent as an uncle to her daughter, Loretta, five.
She has stuck by her ex and close friend following his arrest and insists he's not a violent man.
A friend who knows both Lydia and Arg very well tells The Sun: 'When it comes to what happened with Arg and Nicoline, Lydia would never condone violence and has made that very clear to James, but she doesn't think that he is a violent man and she knows he deeply regrets the events of that night.
"She has stuck by him, even though she doesn't agree with his actions - just as his other mates like Mark Wright have."
Lydia was also there for Argent when his weight ballooned to nearly 30 stone amid drug and food addiction.
5
5
Nicoline Artursson's statement in full
It's now been a month. I still can't believe it.
My fractures on my body have finally healed but I'm wounded inside. I've been quiet long enough. Silence protects no one - and it almost destroyed me.
What started as a love story sadly turned into something else. Behind the pictures, promises and the plans for a life together - the beautiful days - changed into something into sadness with emotional manipulation and eventually physical harm.
I loved deeply, believed in our future and stood by someone I thought would protect me and instead I was left alone and harmed in ways I never imagined.
I was not only failed by him but deeply affected by the presence of unresolved ties to his past.
Yes I posted an Instagram story with a simple yes or no question about if your ex should be a part of your present relationship. I felt there were too many people in our relationship: me, my boyfriend and his ex. 'Three's a crowd', they say.
I asked so many times if we could be just the two of us, but the answer was a strong NO. I experienced what I can only describe as targeted emotional distress which he allowed to continue.
The ex and her family put us through so much misery and false accusations, I won't go into details. They had no reason whatsoever to do what they did to us, but for some reason they wouldn't let go and let us enjoy our love.
Everybody knows that real friends support you and want to see you happy.
So I posted a story on Instagram.
After being together for one year my boyfriend finally promised me that he would have boundaries.
He would put a stop to all that had been going on for months.
But he didn't. Instead he broke the promise and her controlling behaviour continued. The rest is history.
I was brutally thrown out of our new home in the middle of the night wearing only my pyjamas. I opened the door to let him in and only minutes after I found myself laying down on the stairs outside our house.
My clothes and belongings were being thrown out from the balcony down on me. I was injured.
Thanks to incredible neighbours who heard and saw what happened and acted, I got help. They called police, brought me to safety and ensured the incident was taken seriously.
A gentleman does not abuse you and end up in jail and call you the love of his life. A gentleman does not blame you for his actions. A gentleman will confide in his partner, family and close circle of friends, keeping them close and safe. A gentleman chooses you always and leaves the past in the past - including exes.
Life is to be lived together and not to please people who want to take advantage of you. At the end of the day, fame can only do so much - it's all about being strong and growing together.
Life is simply not a reality TV show, life is real.
I have tried to understand why. I have cried so many tears thinking about the way he chose to hurt me. He said he loved me and I believed him and here we are.
There is now a legal record of what happened. Violence has no excuse - no matter how much love preceded it.
To those who questioned me for staying as long as I did: I stayed because I believed in love. I believed he and we could grow, could heal, could choose peace. But love doesn't survive in chaos. And it cannot survive where violence lives.
To every woman reading this: if you've ever questioned your worth, your safety or your sanity in a relationship - this is your sign. You deserved to be loved with care and integrity. And you are not alone.
To the men: real strength is protection. Real love is safe. Be the kind of man who lifts women up - not one who breaks them down, neither by violence or silence.
To the future: never say never. I will get the little family I've always dreamed of and have my dream wedding to symbolise and celebrate true love in front of my dear family and friends.
I'm healing now. Slowly, bravely and unapologetically. I will rise and I will use my voice - not for vengeance but for truth. For every woman who's been silenced by someone who said 'I love you' and then proved otherwise.
This is not just my story. It's a reminder: abuse - whether emotional, psychological or physical - has no place in love.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Mel Gibson, 69, chows down on pasta in Rome amid work on sequel to one of his iconic films
Mel Gibson was glimpsed having a laugh while chowing down on pasta in Rome - as he develops the sequel to one of his most iconic movies. The 69-year-old actor and director has apparently traveled to the capital of Italy in order to work on his upcoming film Resurrection Of The Christ. His picture will serve as the follow-up to his self-funded 2004 sleeper hit The Passion Of The Christ, directed by Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. The first movie began with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and ended with him emerging from the tomb, so the next one will presumably cover the 40 days the Bible says he remained on earth after his return from the dead. A source said Gibson is pre-production on the new film, via TMZ, and he was spotted indulging in the local cuisine in a restaurant on his downtime. When he noticed that he was being observed, he mischievously goofed off a bit, pulling extravagant faces and grinning broadly. The Braveheart star cut a casual figure during his latest outing, opting for a black V-neck t-shirt and a matching set of trousers. Jazzing up the ensemble with a necklace, the Apocalypto director slung a fashionable set of gleaming sunglasses from his shirt. The sighting comes just weeks after Gibson enjoyed an onstage reunion with Danny Glover, his co-star in another one of his legendary pictures, Lethal Weapon. The co-stars were onstage at a fan expo in Philadelphia, during which they fielded questions about the hugely successful Lethal Weapon franchise and its previously announced and long delayed fifth instalment, which will be directed by Gibson. Glover, 78 - whose Detective Roger Murtaugh famously claimed he was 'too old for this s**t' in all four Lethal Weapon instalments - was back in the spotlight some three years after his last screen appearance in 2022 black comedy American Dreamer. Joining the veteran star, Gibson, 69 - Murtagh's unpredictable and highly volatile partner Martin Riggs - showed off an enormous, greying beard as he took to his seat at the Pennsylvania Convention Center during Saturday's expo. Gibson previously confirmed that long-time co-star Danny will make an appearance in the latest film, reprising his role as LAPD Sergeant Murtaugh. The Australian star also told how he asked for Glover's blessing to direct the movie following the death of director Richard Donner - who took charge of the first four films. A source said Gibson is pre-production on the new film, via TMZ The Braveheart star cut a casual figure during his latest outing The co-stars were onstage at a fan expo in Philadelphia, during which they fielded questions about the hugely successful Lethal Weapon franchise Reiterating his intention to direct the feature in 2022, Gibson told Entertainment Tonight: 'Yeah, I am directing that. I'm really looking forward to it.' The star went on to add that his place behind the camera was bittersweet following the death of Donner in 2021. He added: 'I wish I wasn't directing it. I wish Richard Donner was still here to do it but left us untimely, and he actually asked me, he said "Hey kid, if I don't make it, you'll take the reins, huh?" I told him to shut up. 'I think it's an honor for me to be able to carry the flag for him'. And after getting Richard's blessing, Gibson told how he then turned to Glover to ask his thoughts on him directing, also confirming that his former co-star had agreed to reprise his iconic role. Gibson added: 'I called Danny [Glover] up, of course, and said "Hey, dude, is it okay with you if I direct this?", to which Glover replied "Yeah, let's go". He also insisted on having complete faith in Glover, adding: 'I know Danny's going to pull it off real well, too. He's kind of like the show pony in this one'. Gibson made the big announcement about the new film in 2021, where he began his address by paying tribute to the filmmaker who had previously spearheaded the action-comedy franchise. Gibson featured in the Lethal Weapon movies as the unpredictable and highly volatile partner of the Donald Glover character Gibson also recalled that the filmmaker had given him his blessing to continue the series in the future 'The man who directed all the Lethal films, Richard Donner, he was a big guy,' he expressed. Gibson also recalled that the filmmaker had given him his blessing to continue the series in the future. He remarked that Donner 'was developing the screenplay and he got pretty far along with it. And he said to me one day, "Listen kid, if I kick the bucket you will do it." And I said: "Shut up."' Gibson then noted that the filmmaker made a point of telling various individuals that the actor was more than capable of keeping the franchise going after his death. 'But he did indeed pass away. But he did ask me to do it and at the time I didn't say anything. He said it to his wife and to the studio and the producer. So I will be directing the fifth one.' It's understood that plans to shoot the new film are now underway after years of delays, with original screenwriter Shane Black also onboard. The film franchise also spawned a TV series, which ran for three seasons for 2021 with Clayne Crawford as Riggs and Damon Wayans as Murtaugh.
Sky News
3 hours ago
- Sky News
'He was going to kill me': More strangulation cases recorded by police but many investigations falter
Around 70% of non-fatal strangulation cases in the last year have been dropped due to evidential issues, exclusive data shared with Sky News shows. It is now three years since it became a standalone offence in England and Wales, in a landmark piece of legislation designed to protect domestic abuse victims. Data from the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS) shows that police are implementing the offence widely - but outcomes for victims are mixed. Warning: This article contains references to domestic abuse and sexual assault 'Sarah' - whose name has been changed to protect her identity - vividly remembers the first time her ex-partner strangled her, one year into their relationship. She said: "He was drunk, and he climbed on top me. He put his hands around my throat, and he pinned me down with the strength of his body." Terrified, she begged him repeatedly to stop, but he carried on. "I remember I just felt really numb and scared, but it was weird, it felt like an out-of-body experience." Afterwards the only words he spoke to her were 'look what you made me do', she said, and then when the ordeal was over, he carried on with his day as if nothing had happened. This was the beginning of a pattern of abuse that continued throughout the rest of their relationship, happening on at least 30 more occasions, Sarah estimated. It became so normalised He strangled her when she was pregnant. He strangled her whether her children were in the house or not. It always happened during sex, though Sarah was only later able to recognise that this was rape after talking to the police, because for her it had become so normalised. And, always, he told Sarah it was her fault - that she had somehow 'made' him do it. She later went on to suffer a miscarriage because of the physical abuse. 'A form of control' "Looking back now I can see it was a form of control. He got off on knowing that he was in control, and he liked seeing me upset," she said. "I thought that he was going to kill me because he used to threaten it to me. It was very, very scary." This fear of death is common among victims of strangulation and is a recognised tool of control and intimidation. A US study found that victims of domestic abuse were seven times more likely to be murdered by their current or former partner if there had been an incident of non-fatal strangulation beforehand. But this form of violence often leaves no obvious external signs of injury, meaning in some cases perpetrators could only be investigated for less serious offences like common assault, which did not reflect the severity of the crime. What are the possible effects on health? The potential health impacts are wide-ranging, including loss of consciousness, voice changes, difficulty in swallowing and breathing, bruising, haemorrhages, headaches, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), miscarriage, risk of suicide, and death (including delayed death). Symptoms can arise weeks or months after the event. It is for these reasons that campaigners fought for the introduction of the standalone offence, which came into effect in June 2022. 'Much work to be done' The IFAS has been monitoring the offence since the legislation was introduced and shared its latest report findings exclusively with Sky News. It said there is still "much work to be done" to better protect victims of strangulation. New figures obtained by IFAS from the Home Office reveal that over 63,000 crimes of non-fatal strangulation or suffocation were recorded by police in England and Wales in the first two years under the legislation. There were 39,360 recorded crimes in 2023/24, on average 66 offences per 100,000 people compared with 50 per 100,000 the year before, an increase of 20%. "Survivors who work with us have recognised time and time again how important it is to be able to see strangulation as a standalone offence and have the opportunity to progress with criminal justice proceedings," Harriet Smailes, co-author of the report, told Sky News. The volume of crimes recorded suggests that the offence is being widely recognised and reported by police - and the number resulting in charges, at 12%, is high compared to some other offences. However, a significant number of investigations result in no further action due to evidential difficulties. This can happen if police or prosecutors do not believe there is enough evidence to proceed, or if the victim does not support the investigation. This was the outcome in three in five investigations overall, including one in five investigations where the victim did support police action. Outcomes were similar in both years of available data. "In around half of cases, there are no external, physical, visible signs of injury. That's not to say that there aren't internal injuries that can't be seen just with the naked eye," said Ms Smailes, who is a research officer at IFAS. "It might be that that visible injury isn't present at the time of evidence capture that might develop over time, or because there's a difference in how individuals show bruising, for example those of different skin tones. That can contribute towards there not being enough perceived evidence to be able to progress with a police case," she said. In some cases where a victim disengages from police proceedings, it may be that they did not feel supported and believed in the process or felt that there were "too many obstacles". On the other hand, not all cases where a victim did not support police action are necessarily negative. "It might be that initial needs have been met in that instance through reporting to the police, for example, initial containment of the risk of that situation, and referrals to specialist health or mental health services," Ms Smailes explained. Police 'determined' to improve Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe is the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for domestic abuse. She told Sky News that securing prosecutions for strangulation is a priority for tackling violence against women and girls, and a key part of national Domestic Abuse Matters training. "For us to do well in prosecutions, we need to understand how perpetrators operate, how they use this is a sinister way of controlling their victims. And we also know that many victims are frightened to pursue prosecution," she said. Investigators not only have to secure detailed evidence rapidly but also present the best possible case so that prosecutors and juries understand how an abuser is operating, she said. "That can be a challenging job, for a police service that's under pressure, trying to deal with a myriad of priorities. I know many investigators are passionate about getting this right." "We know we're up against it when it comes to securing convictions, but we're determined to improve," she added. Fewer than half were convicted Separate research by IFAS has found that in the first year under the new legislation, only around half of the number of offences charged by police were prosecuted, and less than half of those secured a conviction. Overall, 47% of the 1,437 prosecutions of non-fatal strangulation and suffocation offences in the year to June 2023 resulted in conviction, based on data from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) from all courts in England and Wales. There are several potential reasons that a prosecution may be unsuccessful, including evidential difficulties or a victim withdrawing from the process. The accused may also have been convicted of a separate offence, but not for the strangulation. Without more detailed data, it is hard to determine to what extent each is contributing to the low conviction rate. Reflecting on the figures, head of policy and public affairs at domestic abuse support charity Refuge, Ellie Butt, told Sky News that victims often face "huge pressure" from perpetrators to drop out of the criminal justice process. "When compounded with lengthy court delays and insufficient support, many survivors are forced to withdraw from the process. Police and prosecutors should be working to build cases that can be taken forward even when a survivor can no longer continue," she said. The Crown Prosecution Service highlighted to Sky News that the number of new prosecution proceedings has been consistently increasing, particularly domestic abuse-related strangulation offences. In the latest quarter, 2,000 cases reached their first hearing at magistrates' court. Kate Brown, the CPS national lead for domestic abuse, said: "Three years on, we have continued to bring more charges quarter on quarter, with over 2,000 seen in court in the past three months. "This standalone offence has shone a light on those who seek to use these violent acts to exert power over another person and harm them. We are determined to continue bringing abusers to justice for victims." A gendered crime The new data from IFAS reinforces that strangulation is a gendered crime. Around 80% of victims whose gender was recorded by police were female, while 88% of suspects were male. The data also shows that while people from all ages are impacted, most victims are younger, with three in five aged 34 or under. The age profile of suspects was slightly higher, with three in five suspects aged between 25 and 44. 'I want to say it's not your fault' Sarah's case ended in evidential difficulties. Though her case was reported before 2022, when strangulation became a specific offence, she said she did provide substantial physical evidence to the police and she feels "let down" by the justice system. She said she has been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and other health issues. "I live with it every day. It can be a song that comes on the radio or a sign or somebody's name and it would just bring everything back to me to that point, that moment," she said. "I want to say it's not your fault. Nobody has the right to control you, nobody has the right to abuse you, rape you, strangle you. "I would urge anyone to speak out and if you feel like you haven't been heard and your voice has not been listened to, speak out again."
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Charli XCX shares gushing 30th birthday tribute to Troye Sivan as fans go nuts over Chappell Roan doing the 'Apple' dance while duo perform at Primavera festival in Barcelona
Charli XCX shared a sweet birthday tribute to Aussie singer Troye Sivan as he turned 30 amid their performance at Primavera Sound in Barcelona this week. The British star, 32, took to Instagram with several photos and videos celebrating the milestone occasion and documenting their concert together. She gushed over Troye in one of her tribute posts, labelling him one of her most 'special' friends as they appeared to enjoy a huge birthday party at a ritzy venue. 'Dear Troye. Happy birthday. You are one of the most special, sweet, kind and genuine people I've met in this weird walk of life,' she wrote. 'I love you so much and I'm so happy I've gotten to share so many moments with you on stage, on songs and in life. You deserve the world and moreeeeeeee!' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. She gushed over Troye in one of her tribute posts, labelling him one of her most 'special' friends as they appeared to enjoy a huge birthday party at a ritzy venue The first gallery Charli shared on Friday saw the fast friends celebrating Troye's big day with a large group of people at a restaurant. The hitmakers were cuddled up in a red booth, posing up a storm for photos as they enjoyed some beverages together while garbed in white ensembles. A huge, intricately decorated floral cake was also provided at the party, and some guests appeared to give speeches. Troye uploaded a similar set of pictures to his Instagram account, writing: 'It's my birthday. Love you all and please come party w us at Primavera tonight.' The celebrations continued at the packed festival, with fans seen screaming in the audience when Charli and Troye took to the stage to perform together. Another blue cake was included in the images from the concert—it was topped with sparklers and red: 'Don't sweat 30.' Charli and Troye could be seen cuddling up on stage at one point as they serenaded the crowd. However, the Apple hitmaker performed plenty of songs solo, stepping out in some very chic looks as she took to the stage for the end of her Sweat Tour. At one point, fans went completely nuts when a video appeared on the Jumbotron which showed popstar Chappell Roan attending the concert At one point, fans went completely nuts when a video appeared on the Jumbotron which showed popstar Chappell Roan attending the concert. Charli paused ahead of the chorus of her hit song Apple to ask the screaming crowd: 'Who we got here tonight Primavera?' Then the camera cut to Chappell standing in a VIP section high above the stage. As concert-goers went wild, the Pink Pony Club hitmaker began to perform the iconic Apple dance while Charli began to sing the catchy chorus of the song. Charli also shared video of the moment, as well as several other photos to Instagram. 'Thank you, Troye. Thank you, Chappell. Thank you, Primavera. Sweat tour finally came to Europe and it was the bestttttt,' she wrote. She went on to announced her sixth studio album turns one this weekend.
