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The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I got a £15k body makeover paid for by my ex – now it's Christmas everyday for my NEW man
CHECKING the weather forecast, Melissa Jolly let out a sigh. While full sunshine and 7 Melissa Jolly used her divorce settlement to resculpt her whole body Credit: Bauer Media 7 She says she was sick of covering up her loose skin and 'spaniel's ears' Credit: Bauer Media 7 Melissa loves showing off her new £15,000 makeover Credit: Bauer Media 'I dreaded summer coming round each year,' she admits. 'I'd cover up as much as possible, but in the heat, it was impossible.' Previously happy with her looks, Melissa admits that since becoming a mum she had become increasingly self-conscious about her appearance. 'After my eldest, Lucca, was born when I was 20, my belly and boobs had changed for the worse,' she says. Read More on Real Lives 'Then I'd had Annabel, and after 'We'd 'While I loved that my body had kept my babies safe, I hated how it looked. It felt unrecognisable to me.' Over the years, Melissa, from Manchester, had tried everything she could to try to lose the flab, from Most read in Fabulous But at 29, Melissa was still a size 16. 'It was my I spent £75k to turn myself into a 'yummy mummy' - not only am I now more confident in a bikini, but a better parent too 'I tucked my saggy tum into big Bridget Jones-style pants while my 34E spaniel ears would be hoicked up in a bra. 'When I went for drinks with friends, they'd be in teeny co-ords and body-con dresses. 'I always wished I could do the same but instead, I donned a frumpy shirt dress to cover up my baggy tum.' Shopping was out of the question for the mum too. 'I couldn't cope with changing room mirrors,' she admits 'So, I'd live in oversized tees and big jumpers, two sizes too large. 'I'd moan to my husband that I looked like a woman in my 50s and gradually became more depressed about the way I looked.' Then, when Melissa's granddad passed away suddenly it made her take a new outlook at her life. 7 Melissa finally feels comfortable wearing a bikini Credit: Bauer 7 She says that her makeover has made her a better mum to her kids Credit: Bauer Media 'I missed him dearly and it made me think that life was too short to live my life this way,' she says. 'I wasn't happy in our marriage, so I moved out and we got divorced.' The former couple stayed civil and took it in turns to take care of the kids but Melissa says that her body hang ups were still taking a toll. 'I'd always put my kids first,' she says. 'If they needed something, of course I'd go without. That's just what mums do. 'But I realised, I have to do something for myself.' Melissa began looking into surgery to have her excess skin removed. 'It was pricey, but I was investing in me,' she says. 'Luckily, I had a pot of money left over from the divorce settlement.' She came across a clinic with great reviews online, the Pall Mall clinic in Manchester. When a friend went in for surgery and came out looking 'fabulous' Melissa decided it was time to take the bull by the horns. After a consultation with Dr Prabad at Pall Mall, she booked in for a breast enlargement with uplift, tummy tuck, liposuction, and muscle repair on her stomach. And it didn't come cheap with Melissa's final bill coming in at £15,000, a price she was happy to pay. 'I wanted to make sure I was in safe hands,' she explains. 'I only told a few people close to me what I had planned because I didn't need unwanted opinions. 'My friend Steph agreed to help out with the kids and change dressings. 'Luckily, she was a nurse, and so was my mum. My stomach was full of butterflies as I was wheeled into the operating theatre Melissa Jolly 'They'd take care of me while I rested up after the operation.' Only Steph had another idea of how she could help her friend out. 'One day, about two weeks before my surgery, she suggested that I go on a date with her brother,' says Melissa. 'I'd met her brother Will a few times, and he seemed a good sort. 'But we didn't know each other well. Still, we went on a date and had a few drinks and he was easy to chat to. 'When I explained about my surgery, he looked me up and down and told me I didn't need to have it done. 'It was sweet but I wasn't doing this for any man. This was all for me.' The pair began dating and Melissa says that she still felt self-conscious about her figure. 'I felt self-conscious getting undressed in front of Will but he made it clear he fancied me rotten anyway,' she says. 'Even with my boobs hanging down round my middle!' When the day of the operation rolled around, Melissa arranged for her two eldest to stay with her mum for the weekend while the two youngest were at their dad's so she could recover in peace. Will joined Melissa at the clinic where the reality of what she was undertaking dawned on her. 'My stomach was full of butterflies as I was wheeled into the operating theatre,' she says. Different types of weight loss surgery For many people who are overweight or obese, they may feel they have exhausted options for weight loss and want to try something more drastic. Weight loss surgery may be available to them on the NHS if they have a BMI over 40 and have a condition that may be improved with weight loss, such as diabetes. But the availability of these procedures largely depends on where you live in the UK. People can also pay privately. Weight loss surgery is a common and safe procedure. However, as with any operation, there are risks, such as a blood clot, a band slipping out of place, a stomach infection, gallstones and excessive skin from weight loss that in most cases, won't be removed on the NHS. In all of the following options, the space in the stomach is reduced, therefore a person feels fuller after eating less food. They lose weight as a result. However, it is necessary for them to also learn good eating habits and have a healthy balanced diet, too. Gastric bypass The stomach is divided into two using a staple. The smaller part is connected to the intestines, effectively cutting how much space there is in the stomach by half. The operation takes around two hours. Gastric band A band is tied around the top of the stomach and inflated so that it tightens. The operation takes three to four hours. Gastric balloon Patients swallow an empty balloon which is attached to a tube. The balloon is filled with water via the tube, taking around 20 minutes, so that it fills around two-thirds of the stomach space. Sleeve gastrectomy Around 80 per cent of the stomach is removed in surgery to make it much smaller and a sleeve shape. The operation takes between one and three hours. 'But I pictured my brand-new body as everything turned black. 'When I woke up, I looked down and there, under bandages, were my new perky 34G boobs. 'They were mountains compared to what I was used to and while I couldn't see my flat tum, I could certainly feel it.' Thrilled but battered and bruised, Melissa recovered at the clinic with Will by her side before she was eventually sent home. A week later, Melissa's drains were removed from her chest and with the help of Steph and her mum within another week she was on the mend. 'My bandages were off and, like magic, I was a whole new woman,' Melissa says. With a new found confidence, Melissa bought brand-new outfits to accentuate her size 14 curves. 'When I pulled on a body-con dress with a huge cut-out over the midriff, I gasped,' she admits. 'Will took me out to a bar to celebrate, six weeks after my surgery. 'I felt spectacular and when I nipped to the ladies, even people I didn't know were full of lovely comments. 'I didn't care what blokes thought but all those gorgeous girls fawning over my figure was the cherry on top of the cake.' With my new-found confidence, it's Christmas every day for Will in the bedroom now too Melissa Jolly Seven months on from surgery, Melissa says her kids are reaping the rewards of her new positive outlook. 'I'm full of beans, taking them on day trips and even swimming,' she says. 'We'd never gone to the pool together before. 'And on the school run, I'll be in little co-ords, proudly showing my shape.' And it's not just the kids who are benefiting. 'With my new-found confidence, it's Christmas every day for Will in the bedroom now too,' says Melissa. 'This summer, I'll be proudly wearing bikinis by the pool. 'We need to ditch the stigma around 'mummy makeovers'. 'It's OK to want to get your groove back after having children. 'I feel sexy and empowered – you can't put a price on that.' 7 Melissa has loved being able to shop for stylish new looks Credit: Bauer 7 Melissa says that her sex life with Will has greatly improved since her makeover Credit: Bauer Media
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Funding my ex's £35k hospital treatment almost left me homeless – a call from her kids' social worker changed everything
SEEING the number flash up on his phone, James Andrews felt the familiar feeling of dread wash over him. He knew full well that it would be his ex partner Marta Szymanska's 6 James Marin was conned out of almost £35k by his ex Marta Szymanska Credit: Bauer Media 6 She fabricated photos of herself pretending to be in hospital claiming she needed him to cover medical expenses Credit: Bauer Media 6 James was also sent fabricated emails that assured him he would be reimbursed Credit: Bauer Media Having battled a chronic illness for months James was used to handing over money for her medical treatment and had been sacrificing his own bills to do so. But what James didn't realise was that it was all part of a 'I feel ashamed and foolish to have fallen for her cruel and calculated James met Szymanska after matching with her on a dating app and says that their connection was almost instant. Read More on Real Lives 'I was quickly impressed by Marta,' he says. 'She had old-fashioned values, dressed elegantly and loved classic films; it didn't take us long to become an official.' But despite their speedy start James admits that things fizzled out with Szymanska after he went travelling. James, a chef from Northwich, Cheshire says: 'I missed Marta, however, and when I got back we decided to make a proper go of things.' Most read in Fabulous A few months later James asked Szymanska to move in and for the next two years the couple lived a happy existence. But during lockdown, things started to deteriorate. Shameless moment crook counts £30k in cash he swindled from vulnerable pensioners 'One night, I came home from a long shift to find Marta had been drinking,' James says. 'There were cans of cider littering the front room and she was sprawled on the sofa. 'I tried to confront her but couldn't get any sense out of her. 'I decided to go to my dad's. But when I got back, Marta was still drinking and the house was a mess. 'It was clear she had a problem, so I encouraged her to get help and got her a job where I worked.' James says that after that Szymanska seemed to improve and normality resumed but it wasn't to last. 'Just a few weeks later she'd hit the bottle again,' James recalls. 'Whenever she was drunk, she would lash out verbally at me. I felt as if I was walking on eggshells. 6 James claims that Szymanska developped a drinking problem during lockdown and he asked her to leave Credit: Bauer Media 6 Once out of his home she cooked up the plan to fleece him of his wages Credit: Bauer Media 'I'd even bathe her as she'd stopped looking after herself. It was heartbreaking. 'She'd promise to stop drinking but I'd find bottles of booze hidden all around the house. 'I called the police and social workers, but nobody seemed to help.' After a tense Christmas, James made the decision to end things with Szymanska. 'But she refused to leave,' he claims. 'My frustration got the better of me, and I pushed her outside. She fell and banged her knee and elbow. 'I felt terrible and ashamed. I'd never done anything like that before. 'I apologised, but Marta pressed charges.' James pleaded guilty to common assault and asked to go on a Building Better Relationships course. Meanwhile, Szymanska stayed in the house, while James moved in with his dad because she claimed she had nowhere else to go. Three months later, she finally left but James says that when he came home his house was 'a complete mess.' I was very concerned about her, but by then, I'd handed over £15k and had nothing left James Andrews 'I never wanted to see Marta again, and tried to move on,' he says. 'Only, two months later, I got a call. It was Marta, and she seemed distressed. 'She told me she'd stopped drinking and had got a job but her boss had done a runner with her wages. 'I felt bad for her, and agreed to send £820 for living expenses which she promised to pay back. 'But as the weeks marched on she kept making excuses about why she hadn't paid me yet. 'Then, a month later, she told me she was in hospital after collapsing and had been sectioned. I knew she suffered from depression and was worried about her.' Weeks passed, then one day James received a call from a man called Dr Jahavar Singh. 'He told me Marta was very ill and required lifesaving treatment,' he says. 'He explained she had encephalitis of the brain and had been placed in an induced coma.' The doctor claimed that he'd paid out of his own pocket and asked James to cover the costs, to later be reimbursed by NHS England. 'I tried to tell him that it was not my problem and that Marta had family in Poland but the doctor told me I was listed as next of kin,' says James. 'After that, I was bombarded with calls every few days, asking for hundreds of pounds. 'I felt pressured to help her, but it left me struggling to pay my bills.' A month later James received yet another call with Dr Singh telling him that Szymanska had deteriorated and needed further treatment and injections. Days later, James says another one of Szymanska's doctors told him she had a 50% chance of survival. 'I was devastated and broke down in tears,' she says. 'I was very concerned about her, but by then, I'd handed over £15k and had nothing left. 'But a nurse called Eva told me I'd get the money back, telling me my ex's disability benefit and compensation were due. 'I also got various emails from Citizen's Advice and the NHS backing up Marta's claims about her illness, and giving complicated reasons for why my money hadn't been returned as promised. 'Marta also assured me I'd be reimbursed.' But the financial strain meant that James wasn't sleeping as most of his wages were going towards Szymanska's treatment. How do I spot crypto scams? CRYPTO scams are popping up all over the internet. We explain how to spot them. Promises of a high or guaranteed return - Does the offer look realistic? Scammers often attract money by making fake promises. Heavy marketing and promotional offers - If they are using marketing tricks to con customers you should beware. Unamed or non-existent team members - Just like any business you should be easily able to find out who is running it. Check the whitepaper - Every crypto firm should have a white paper. This should explain how it plans to grow and make money. If this doesn't make sense, then it could be because the founders are trying to confuse you. Do your research - Check reviews online and Reddit threads to see what other people think. Then weeks later, Szymanska was discharged from hospital. 'I was relieved she was better and assumed that would be an end to the demands for money,' James recalls. But not long after, Szymanska called James in tears, claiming that she couldn't afford her medication and also needed money for vet bills and rent. 'She told me she had bailiffs at her door but I questioned her about her benefits and asked her if this was some sort of con,' James says. 'But she forwarded me emails from Citizen's Advice saying her finances were in a mess and they were working on getting money back from the bank. 'I had to resort to borrowing cash from friends, family and colleagues. It was humiliating.' One day a concerned colleague took James aside. 'He told me it sounded dodgy and asked me whether I was sure this was the truth,' James says. 'But I had the emails to back it up.' Meanwhile, letters from James' mortgage company warned him that he was at risk of losing his house if he didn't keep up repayments. He says: 'I was out of my mind with stress, but I believed I was doing the right thing by helping Marta.' But almost two years later, James still hadn't received a penny back and things came to a head one night at a train station. 'A dark thought ran through my head,' he admits. The idea of opening up to anyone terrifies me and I fear I may never recover financially or mentally James Andrews 'But the faces of my loved ones filled my mind, and I stepped away from the edge.' Months later, James received a call from a social worker because she mistakenly thought he was the father of one of Szymanska's children. And what she told him sent him reeling. 'She said that Marta was physically well and didn't have any medical conditions,' James says. 'I was in shock. She'd spun a cunning web of lies to convince me she was seriously ill. 'I realised the doctor, nurse and the official-looking emails were all fake. 'She'd taken advantage of my kindness and scammed me out of £34,234. 'I couldn't breathe.' The social worker encouraged James to phone the police. After filing his report James' phone, bank statements and the file of fake emails were taken away. It was a complex investigation, but a year later, Szymanska was charged with 10 counts of fraud by false representation. Days before she was due to stand trial, Marta Szymanska, 43, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court. 'Part of me was relieved, but another felt I'd been cheated, as she wouldn't have to explain herself,' James says 'I went to court to see her sentenced, but felt let down when she received a 20-month suspended sentence after probation officers said she'd had a difficult childhood.' Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett told her, 'You conned Mr Andrews in a particularly sophisticated and cruel way, pretending that you were ill and pretending that there were difficulties.' James adds: 'I had no reason not to believe her. 'The idea of opening up to anyone terrifies me and I fear I may never recover financially or mentally.' 6 While James is relieved he worries about opening up to anyone going forward Credit: Bauer Media
The Irish Sun
20-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
My son had the dream life in Spain – then a phone call changed everything, I may never get the answers I need
A YEAR ago, Sandra Adams received a call that will haunt her for the rest of her life. She was on her way home from work on 22 July last year and she says at that moment her old life ended. 7 Breet Dryden was found dead in his home in Spain Credit: Supplied 7 Heartrboken mum Sandra Adams believes that her son was killed Credit: Supplied She was told that her only son Brett Dryden, had been found dead at his home in While Sandra says that at times the She is driven by a burning sense of injustice, because she believes Brett seemingly had the Read More on Real Lives They had a daughter. The relationship didn't work out and the couple split but Brett stayed in Spain to build his business and remained a doting father. He lived in the laid-back Spanish seaside town of Sandra, from Chester-Le-Street, says: 'When he moved, I was devastated but it was his choice. 'He had an amazing life there. He loved it. He had loads of friends and said he would never move back.' Most read in Fabulous But that dream life ended on July 22 last year, the day Sandra received a call from one of Brett's friends in Spain who had found his body in his villa. 'I couldn't believe what I was hearing,' she says. Tributes Pour In for Father-of-Three Who Tragically Died in Benidorm 'My world caved in, I was in utter disbelief and I'm still in shock today.' In a daze, Sandra, a carer, 56, and her husband and Brett's stepdad Rob flew to Spain that day. One of the friends who found Brett claimed he'd overheard the Spanish police known as the Guardia Civil saying they believed Brett had been struck in the head with an axe. However, the friends had been allowed to walk through the villa several times, which was potentially a murder scene. A post-mortem was performed the following day. It concluded Brett died of a pulmonary embolism, caused by a blood clot in his lungs. The case was closed. 'They said it was a terrible accident. He fell and banged his head,' Sandra explains. She was immediately sceptical. Rob had taken photos and video of blood stains in several locations around the property. Her suspicions were further raised when she went to see her son's body. 7 Brett moved to Spain with his daughter and partner but when they returned to England he decided to stay put Credit: Supplied 7 Initially Brett's death was ruled as accidental but his parents don't believe this is the case Credit: Supplied 7 'He was in the chapel of rest, and there was a huge wound in the side of his head,' she recalls. 'I knew in my gut that something was not right. He had other visible injuries. To me it looked like there had been a struggle.' The family have only recently been given details of what was contained in the full Spanish autopsy report. They hired a Spanish lawyer who gained access to official documents in the case. According to him, the autopsy report detailed injuries to Brett's legs, arms, head and neck and fingernail marks, cuts and bruises on his face. There were nail wounds to his lips and neck. There was also a four-centimetre wound to his head and bruising to his ear, eye and skull on his left side. Pathologists found internal bleeding to the right side of his head and 'intense encephalic congestion' - an injury resulting in the brain's blood vessels becoming swollen and congested. The report also reveals police had admitted to pathologists that Brett had been the victim of a home invasion. I just don't understand how we're nearly a year on and no further forward Sandra Adams The report stated: 'During the examination signs of a struggle were observed on the body such as droplets of blood in various locations on the body.' Despite all this the autopsy also said there was cocaine in Brett's system and concluded this was what triggered the pulmonary embolism and within a day of the original postmortem the case was closed. Still raw and in shock at their loss, Sandra and Rob did their own digging. They discovered several of Brett's personal belongings were missing including his mobile phone, his wallet and his designer sunglasses. In the days after his death Sandra used Brett's MacBook to track the missing iPhone which was still being used and pinged at several locations in the nearby town of Vera. She showed the police. Four days after Brett's death, with so many unanswered questions, a local court ordered the police to reopen the case and treat it as a homicide investigation. Sandra believes cops were hoping to sweep the death under the carpet to protect the reputation of the area, which relies on tourism. 'If they could have covered it up, they would have done,' claims Sandra. In addition to the phone location, the Adams also discovered potential CCTV evidence after Rob knocked on neighbours' doors looking for video footage. Sandra explains: 'One neighbour confirmed they had footage but under Spanish law they're not allowed to give the CCTV footage to anybody but the police, who now have the footage. 'We haven't seen it but our lawyer has seen reference to it in the police reports, which he says clearly shows two people leaving Brett's villa the day he died. 'He says the people were carrying what appeared to be the same type of bag Brett used to carry the takings from his club. 'What's more, the manager of Brett's club also told police that he was on the phone to Brett before he died and that Brett cut the conversation short with the words: 'I've got to go, they're here.'' Where to seek grief support Need professional help with grief? Child Bereavement UK Cruse Bereavement Relate The Good Grief Trust You can also always speak to your GP if you're struggling. You're Not Alone Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief… Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast. The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism. Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they're really feeling. Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who've suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums. Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips. How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death. Sandra now believes that people who knew Brett tried to rob him, and that he fought back and was killed. 'He was only a little chap,' she says. 'He was five foot five and a half. But I know he wouldn't have let anybody come into his house and not defended himself. 'I just don't understand how we're nearly a year on and no further forward.' After Brett's body was repatriated, UK authorities held their own autopsy. The results have yet to be released. 'When we get those details, we can compare them with the Spanish postmortem report,' says Sandra. 'If I didn't have this to fight for, I don't think I'd be was my only son. 'When I had him, I wasn't with his dad, so it was me and him until I met Rob. 'He was a great boy. He was always smiling. He had a really good heart. He was happy-go-lucky and he would help anybody if he could.' Sandra says Brett's daughter is struggling to cope with the loss. 'She's a really brave little girl,' says Sandra. I would hate for anybody to go through what we're going through. It's hell on earth every single day Sandra Adams 'She talks about her daddy openly, but she talks about him as if he is still here. She misses him terribly because they were really close.' And when Sandra was diagnosed with early-stage womb cancer in 2023 and needed a hysterectomy, Brett was there to support his doting mum. On the anniversary of his death the family will fly out to Spain to remember him. Brett's daughter, his sister, Shannon and his aunt and his nieces and nephews will be there. 'I am going to lay flowers up at the villa,' says Sandra. ''We will go to Zeppelin Bar where he spent most of his nights with his friends and where I'm going to raise a glass to him. 'I'm going to make it a celebration of his life. I'm not dreading it because I feel close to him out there. I feel at peace there.' But until she's satisfied that she knows what happened, Sandra remains in limbo. The family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help with their legal costs. 'I want justice, I want to know what happened and I want the police to take accountability for the mess they made of it because they clearly tried to cover it up in the beginning,' she says. 'I'm going to keep talking about it and keep looking for answers because I need to keep the case out there, and to let the authorities, and whoever did it, know that I'm not going away.' A court spokesman previously said of the case: 'The investigation hasn't been suspended or closed. It is still open, and this incident remains under investigation. "The court is waiting for the Guardia Civil to complete their full report and present their conclusions. For the time being there's nothing more we can say.' The Sun reached out to the Guardia Civil for comment. 'I'm hoping that they do find who did this,' says Sandra. 'I would hate for anybody to go through what we're going through. It's hell on earth every single day. 'He was my only son. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with it. I think I'll cry every day for his loss. I navigate through my grief. I'm doing the best I can. He deserves justice.' 7 Sandra says getting to the truth of what happened is what keeps her going Credit: Supplied 7 Brett lived in Mojacar, Spain Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I gave birth then hours later police shared the horrifying truth about my baby's father, I wept in my hospital bed
CRADLING her newborn baby girl in hospital, Cora Barnes' eyes filled with tears. But the 21-year-old wasn't crying tears of joy. Advertisement 7 Cora Barnes was horrified to learn the truth about the man she had a baby with Credit: HotSpot Media 7 She gave birth to their daughter and 24 hours later she was visited by police Credit: HotSpot Media 7 They explained that Luke Greenfield had secretly filmed them having sex Credit: HotSpot Media Just hours after delivering her daughter she had been hit with the horrific news that the father of the child was not who she believed him to be. He had been arrested for secretly filming himself having sex with girls including Cora. Pervert, Luke Greenfield, 26, had set up a What's more, she was forced to identify herself in images the police had taken from a video Greenfield had filmed. Advertisement Read More on Real Lives In August 2024, Greenfield appeared at Hull Crown Court and admitted 17 offences of He was jailed for just three years. The police are yet to identify 17 other women in other footage he'd taken. Cora says: 'I was horrified to discover Luke had filmed me. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous 'I nearly threw up when my foster mother broke the news to me, just a day after giving birth to our daughter. 'I had no idea he'd been filming me during such an intimate time. Teacher Christian Williams, 48, is arrested at Spanaway Lake High School after teen girl found hidden camera in her home 'The thought of him watching the footage back sickened me.' Cora met 'cheeky' Greenfield in October 2022, on a night out. Advertisement She remembers: 'I noticed him standing at the bar and thought he was good looking. 'He was a 'Jack-the-lad' type, with lots of banter and I fell for him. 'He showered me with compliments and made me feel like the only girl in the room.' When Greenfield invited her back to his, Cora declined but agreed to give him her Snapchat handle. Advertisement Days later, he reached out to her and the pair exchanged flirty messages. Cora says: 'He asked me to send him some sexy pictures but I jokingly sent him one of my tattoo on my leg. 7 Cora had met Greenfield on a night out and they had a casual relationship Credit: HotSpot Media 7 She fell pregnant the second time they slept together and she says Greenfield was incosistant with his interest Credit: HotSpot Media Advertisement 7 She claims that he would flit between wanting to raise the baby and claiming it wasn't his Credit: HotSpot Media 'We texted on and off. Sometimes he'd disappear for days on end, only to claim he'd been busy at work at a tyre shop. 'I knew he was a player so decided to see it as a bit of fun.' The following month, Greenfield invited Cora over to his for a takeaway and film night. Advertisement Within minutes of her arriving, he led her into his bedroom and they ended up having sex. Afterwards, Cora didn't hear from Greenfield for days. She says: 'One day, he messaged saying that he wanted a relationship and family with me. 'It was full on and I was only 18. Advertisement 'I said I was too young but thought it was sweet that he wanted a future with me.' I was so disgusted at him, I didn't even reply Cora Barnes A few weeks later, Cora went to Greenfield's for another film night. But after sleeping together, he ghosted her again. Not long after, she realised her period was late and discovered she was pregnant but she says Greenfield's interest was inconsistent. Advertisement Cora claims: 'Throughout the pregnancy he played hot and cold, going between saying he wanted to look after me and the baby, claiming it wasn't his.' In May 2023, Cora gave birth to her daughter after having an emergency C-section. But 24 hours later, her foster mother visited with some horrifying news. Cora recalls: 'She explained that Luke had been arrested for filming girls during sex. Advertisement 'I couldn't believe it. 'But the police visited after I was discharged from hospital and showed me photos from a video and asked if it was me in them. 'There was one of my face, one of me entering Luke's room and another on his bed. 'I broke down sobbing.' Advertisement Yet, the day Greenfield was released on bail, Cora claims he texted her, asking how his daughter was. She says: 'I was so disgusted at him, I didn't even reply. 'He was my daughter's dad so I'd always be tied to him but I knew I had to be strong for her.' In August 2024, Luke Greenfield, then 25, appeared at Hull Crown Court. He admitted 17 offences of voyeurism, involving 11 women as well as making indecent images of children. Advertisement What is voyeurism? Voyeurism is the practice of getting sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or are engaged in sexual activity. It also involves getting enjoyment from seeing the pain or distress of others. The crime falls until Section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2003. There are four subsections under voyeurism: Getting sexual pleasure while watching another person doing a private act and they have not consented Operating equipment with the intention of having them or someone else watching for sexual gratification from an unconsenting person doing a private act Recording an unconsenting person doing a private act and does with intention of them or someone else getting sexual gratification Installing equipment, or constructs or adapts a structure or part of a structure with the intention to watching an unconsenting person doing a private act for sexual gratification The court heard how he'd lured in women using apps like Tinder, befriending them on Instagram and Snapchat. He'd seduce the women then secretly film them. Greenfield even made some of the videos in his workplace and police managed to track down his victims by their first names, accents or mentions of their job. The judge said that Greenfield had caused 'serious emotional harm' as the women had no idea who had seen these videos. At the time of sentencing, police believed a total of 28 women were secretly filmed but only 11 of them had been traced, leaving some 17 women in other videos unidentified. Advertisement Greenfield was jailed for three years. I still feel so much anger and know it will affect my future relationships Cora Barnes Cora says: 'I sat in court alongside his other victims but when I stared at Luke in the dock, his eyes were blank. 'Three years is pathetic considering what he put us through. 'Thankfully the footage has been destroyed. Advertisement 'My daughter's coming up for two now and one day I'll have to tell her about her daddy. 'I still feel so much anger and know it will affect my future relationships. 'But I want to warn other women not to fall for Luke's charms. 'He's nothing but a monster.' Advertisement 7 Cora says she worries about telling her daughter the truth about her das Credit: HotSpot Media
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I earned £20k a month on OnlyFans & bought my council house for £101k – then claimed £1.5k on UC while living rent-free
CHECKING her bank balance Emily Cutter couldn't help but smile. Her first Universal Credit payment of almost £1500 had landed in her account and she was off to buy a celebratory bottle of bubbles. 7 Emily Cutter was once making £20,000 a week on OnlyFans Credit: Supplied 7 But she says that the job took a serious toll on her mental health Credit: Supplied But despite her delight, the payment was just a drop in the ocean compared to what the mum-of-three was used to. Just a few months earlier Emily was making around £20k a month on But she traded it all in for life on the dole, and she says she doesn't regret a thing. 'People thought I was bonkers to give up that kind of cash, and fans begged me to stay but I was burnt out and mentally shattered,' Emily admits. Read More on Real Lives 'My only option was to sign on to Universal Credit and get my life back in order . "I'd earnt a fortune, had bought a house but blew the rest on Former model Emily, 37, lives in Taunton, Somerset with her three children aged 18, 14 and seven, turned to OnlyFans as a way of making money during lockdown. 'It was a great way to pay the bills while I was trapped in the house of homeschooling,' she says. Most read in Fabulous 'It certainly wasn't something I'd ever planned on doing but I know loads of mums who ended up doing the same.' When Emily left school, she planned a career in the health sector and started studying to be a nurse at Plymouth University in 2007. Moment sacked OnlyFans teacher insists 'I never thought they'd catch me' in GMB interview 'I fell pregnant and in March 2008 at 18 I became a teen mum when my eldest was born,' she says. 'I was juggling paying the bills and trying to study and then the following year his dad and I broke up. 'A friend of mine was doing modelling and suggested I give it a go to help pay the bills.' Emily put together a portfolio and soon began modelling for underwear, lingerie, and swimwear shoots in London. In March 2011 Emily welcomed her daughter, now aged 14 and qualified for a two-bedroom semi-detached council house at the time paying just £120 a month rent and said her job was perfect for a working mum. Emily explains: 'The jobs always fit around the school run. 'I never missed a school play, I was involved with the school and there to cheer my kids on at sports days. 'Like most girls in the glamour industry I did topless shots and implied nude pictures and had a friend doing the same, we joked that we had double lives. 7 Mum-of-three Emily started out as glamour model and cam girl Credit: Supplied 7 During lockdown she moved on to OnlyFans when her work dried up and was an instant success Credit: Supplied 7 Her £20k a month earnings meant that she was able to buy her council house Credit: Supplied 'It never crossed my mind to claim benefits, I worked hard for my money.' In December 2017 Emily welcomed her third child by a third father. With three mouths to feed Emily then started working for an adult TV channel based in Bristol. 'I was a cam girl, I could earn £300 on an overnight shift and loved the thrill of live TV,' she says. 'I'd finish a shift, come home, get the kids to school, sleep for a few hours, do the afternoon school run, and then head off to work again.' By now Emily was paying £350 a month rent for her council home and managing to make enough money to pay the bills. 'My kids always had nice clothes, we never went without, but I wasn't the best at budgeting,' she admits. In March 2020 when lockdown hit Emily faced a financial crisis. 'I didn't have any savings; I had credit card bills which needed paying and children to feed,' she says. That's when enterprising Emily decided to become her own boss and sign up to OnlyFans. 'I loved the fact I could take my own photos, create my own videos, and just sit in my bedroom when the kids were sleeping messaging fans to make money,' she says. I'd spend £400 a week on groceries and I'd treat the kids to gourmet takeaways Emily Cutter In January 2020 OnlyFans globally had 350,000 creators but the end of 2020 covid sign ups took that number to 1 million. In Britain, the number of UK-based OnlyFans creators jumped by almost a half or 42% between March–July 2020, reaching around 95,000 creators in that period. Emily would get up each morning, make the kids their breakfast, get them started on their homeschooling and then race upstairs and do a naughty set of photos in her bedroom. 'I didn't do live videos, but I was great at sexting and my fans loved that.,' she says. Initially Emily charged £14.99 a month for membership giving fans access to basic photo sets and videos. 'I already had a fan-base from my time on TV so I got plenty of sign-ups and within the first month I was making £1000,' she says. 'When so many people started setting up accounts, I dropped the monthly rate to £9.99.' Emily watched her earnings grow from £1k to £5k then £10k and at her peak £20k a month. 'I was thrilled with my success but I'm the first to admit I was still awful at budgeting,' she says. 'I'd spend £400 a week on groceries and I'd treat the kids to gourmet takeaways. 'We went on posh holidays and I paid off £20k in credit card debt but then I bought a Range Rover car on finance.' Emily was still living in her £395 a month council house and despite making up to £20k a month refused to give it up. 'You can earn a million quid and still live in a council home,' she says. What is OnlyFans? OnlyFans is a subscription content service based in London. As of 2023, it is thought to have more than 220million registered users and over three million content creators. Sex workers charge monthly fees for access to pictures, videos and more. While popular for porn, the site isn't exclusively designed with that in mind - anyone who wants to build up a fan base and charge them for it can set one up. Celebs like "Whether you're uploading tutorials, tips, behind-the-scenes footage or just endless selfies, a lot of your followers would be willing to pay for them," the company states. For every subscription that's sold to a viewer, performers get 80 per cent of the cash while OnlyFans gets the rest. It isn't limited to adult content, as it has become popular with physical fitness experts and musicians. Instead, Emily applied to buy her council house taking advantage of the fact that as a council tenant for over a decade she would get a huge discount off the asking price. 'OnlyFans helped me buy my council house for £101k and I paid a £50k extension making it into a four -bedroom home,' she says. "As council tenant I got a discount of £59k off the valuation of the house of £160k. I thought that's a bonus for me and the kids. However, Emily admits that despite her success, the job was taking its toll. 'The job was isolating and I felt really lonely,' she admits. 'Each day was the same and it could be really depressing and sometimes I would find myself grossed out by the men I was dealing with. 'I knew I had to stop for the sake of my mental health.' In the middle of 2023 Emily closed down her OF page and deleted it determined to have a fresh start. 'I felt I'd have enough savings to survive on until I decided what I'd do next,' she says. However, the mum of three admits her lack of budgeting skills meant she was almost penniless within a month. 'In July 2023 I applied for Universal Credit and it took six weeks to be approved,' Emily explains. 'If I hadn't gone on benefits I could have ended up homeless. 'I got my first payment in September 2023.' "I learnt to budget better on benefits. 'I did miss my income but I refused to stop spoiling my kids by buying them designer clothes and using Universal Credit cash to pay for a big new TV, Ipads and expensive phones. "I'd go without so the kids and flog old clothes on Vinted so that I could fork out for designer bits and nice takeaways for the kids. I'd rather turn to benefits than take off my clothes Emily Cutter "I kept my Range Rover and refused to give it up. "I took advantage of the extra freebies offered to mums on benefits like free NHS dentistry, free glasses prescriptions, even help with job interview clothes and travel costs to get to those appointments. "Plus we got leisure centers and gyms concessionary memberships, at discounted rates because I was on benefits.' But after half a year on the dole, Emily found a new career that involved keeping all of her clothes on. 'I'm now an independent travel consultant. I have a lovely boyfriend and the kids are thriving.' she says. 'I started by doing a course and booking bespoke holidays for people on all different budgets.' The mum has been so successful she now runs courses to train and mentor other people to be travel advisors. "I earn around £5k a month and projections show by 2028 my earnings could reach upwards of £15k a month due to my mentoring other travel consultants,' she says. 'My mind is the best it's ever been and I have proven I am more than just a pretty face, I have brains too.' Emily does worry for men and women who take adult content making to extremes. "I worry people like Bonnie Blue fall in love with the money and the fame and convince themselves they're making huge strides for women,' she says. "They forget you need to plan for the future, families, children, and different career streams. "They ignore the mental impact and in the cases of porn actors and actresses the physical impact of what they do has on their bodies. "I was just taking naughty pictures and sending risque texts but it almost broke me. "Girls like Bonnie on the extreme side must realise they're not immune either.' While Emily says she will never be tempted back to OnlyFans, she says she would have no problem claiming benefits again if she needed to. She adds: "I will never go back to making adult content, I much preferred being on taxpayer handouts. "I'd rather turn to benefits than take off my clothes.' 7 She has now started a new career as a travel consultant and is much happier Credit: Supplied 7 Emily says that going forward she would rather claim benefits than go back to a career with her clothes off Credit: Supplied
