Why are so many TOWIE girls drawn to trouble?
A string of stars have been linked to criminals Expert explains that the girls want men who can protect them whatever the cost
Ferne Mccann was left devastated that her boyfriend Arthur Collins was linked to the acid attack scandal last week – but she’s not the only TOWIE girl who’s dated a man caught up on the wrong side of the law.
In fact, there seems to be a TOWIE trend, with Gemma Collins, 36, Lauren Goodger, 30, Amy Childs, 26, and Cara Kilbey, 29, all having fallen for men with a murky past.
For the last year Lauren has been dating Joey Morrison, who is currently serving a 16-year sentence for drug-related offences, and has revealed she is desperate to marry and have children with him when he’s due to be released next March.
BAD Boy Appeal
And Lauren’s co-star Amy Childs is expecting her first child next month with on/off boyfriend Bradley Wright, who’s had two stints in jail and time in a Young Offenders Institute for theft and driving offences.
Meanwhile, Gemma Collins dated Alexander Moss, who served time for Class A drug offences in 2014 and later accused him of domestic violence. He denied the claims. Just a year later she was linked to violent criminal Carl Entwistle, who spent over seven years in prison for his role in a multi-million-pound drugs cartel and received 19 months for an attack on a 17-year-old boy in 2008. She was also linked to Stephen Mortimer, who served two years for GBH.
And Gemma admits she likes a bad boy, previously revealing: “I’ve always looked for someone with a dark side. I like gangsters. It’s all about geezers.”
In February, Cara Kilbey’s boyfriend and father of their daughter, Daniel Harris, 33, was cleared of running a network of drug couriers – but was convicted of possessing over £100,000 in criminal cash. He was sentenced to two years, but was released in March after spending a year on remand.
Criminal psychologist Dr
George Fieldman tells Closer that falling in love with a criminal bad boy is nothing new.
PRIMEVAL INSTINCT
Dr Fieldman says: “Dating someone who has a wild streak or who can be dangerous sometimes stems from a primeval instinct where a woman is not interested in a man’s moral status, but rather his ability to help her survive. The women are going for someone strong, who can protect them whatever the cost.
“Criminals are often highly regarded and famous within their set, which can also have its appeal. In the 1960s, the Kray twins were known psychopaths and yet, when one of the twins died, hugely successful comedy actress Barbara Windsor attended their funeral, having been friends with them both. There can be something of the rock star about criminals – which I’m sure is attracting the Essex celebs.”
Many of the TOWIE stars have defended their decision to date often dangerous felons.
On Channel 5’s In Therapy, Lauren Goodger said she doesn’t judge, as she believes that Joey simply fell in with the wrong crowd. Breaking down in tears, she said: “He went inside at 24-years-old, I think he’s amazing. He’s not a bad person. He’d never hurt or harm anyone.
“I think he’s learned his lesson, he didn’t really do anything that bad. He was involved in something and he got a long sentence for it. So I’m protective over him.”
Meanwhile, Amy said of boyfriend Bradley Wright: “I had a breakdown when Bradley went to prison, but I never fell out of love with him. Bradley still apologises for what he did to me now. Brad has made a mistake, he’s been in prison a few times, but he treats me well.”
Dr Fieldman says that while criminals can often turn their lives around and learn from past mistakes, relationships with them can be high risk.
MAKING CHANGES
He adds: “If they’ve explained what they’ve done and genuinely want to turn things around, felons can. We can all make mistakes. A person can change, but it’s heavily reliant on their genes and the environment they’re in when they come out. It’s all about repeat patterns. If someone is repeatedly violent or underhand, that’s not likely to stop. People often revert to type, so relationships with convicted criminals are likely to be tough.”
❛THERE CAN BE SOMETHING OF THE ROCK STAR ABOUT CRIMINALS, AND THIS IS ATTRACTING THE CELEBS❜