Lee Rigby’s fiancee, 24, ‘finds happiness’ with a 51-year-old cadet Major
... and his former wife says she’s not surprised
THE fiancee of fusilier Lee Rigby has found ‘happiness’ with an army major 27 years her senior.
Aimee West, 24, is said to be in a relationship with Major Paul Draper – a former comrade of the murdered soldier.
Just two years after Fusilier Rigby was hacked to death in Woolwich, south-east London, she is said to have formed a close bond with Major Draper, who was a mourner at her fiance’s funeral.
Major Draper’s ex-wife, Jane – whom he left for another woman in 2002 – said she was not surprised by his new relationship.
Speaking from her home in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, yesterday, she said their three children were aware he was dating Miss West.
‘He left me for a girl in the [Army] Cadets,’ Mrs Draper said. ‘He then was seeing another girl who he met in the Cadets, who he was with for
‘Deserves to
be happy’
around ten years.’ It was this relationship, not his marriage, that Major Draper ended before spending time with Miss West.
His ex-wife added: ‘He’s gone out with two other girls from the Cadets and one was 20 years younger.’
According to reports, Miss West and Major Draper have been on several dates in the past few months.
The 51- year- old, a decorated member of the Middlesex and North West Army Cadet Force, told the Sunday Mirror: ‘I like to see Aimee. We are very good friends and we enjoy each other’s company.’
A source told the paper it was ‘common knowledge they’re dating’, adding: ‘If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s Aimee. She’s had a dreadful time.
‘She’ll never forget Lee – he was so important to her – but everyone wants her to be happy. Paul is a lot older than Aimee but he’s been there for her since Lee died.’ Major Draper separated from his latest partner, Priscilla, last November.
He and Miss West have since attended a number of Cadet functions together and last month he comforted her at a St Paul’s Cathedral service to honour fallen soldiers in Afghanistan.
Miss West met Fusilier Rigby at an Army Cadets training camp in Wales in August 2012 and a year later they were engaged.
Remembering him last year, she said: ‘As soon as he turned up, everyone knew he was there because he was energetic and fast-paced, and like nobody else I ever met.’
Miss West was 3,500 miles away at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan when she learned her fiance had been killed in front of horrified onlookers near Woolwich Barracks. Britishborn Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, mowed down Fusilier Rigby in a car as he was walking towards the barracks in a Help For Heroes hoodie, before hacking him to death with knives.
They claimed the heinous act on May 22, 2013, was revenge for the killing of Muslims by British armed forces. They were both jailed for life.
After the sentencing, Miss West said: ‘I hope that this is the last we will hear from them both, so that I can focus on rebuilding my life and keeping Lee’s memory alive.’
Following Fusilier Rigby’s death, Miss West quit the Army and has gone back to university, where she is studying to be a lawyer.
She set up the Lee Rigby Fund as part of the Soldiers’ Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association – and is set to run the London Marathon to raise money for the charity later this month.
Last November, she spoke of her daily battle to block thoughts about the two Islamic extremists who murdered her fiance.
In an interview, she said: ‘I’ve mentally detached myself to be able to cope.’
Miss West was not available for comment at her home in Feltham, west London, yesterday.