Model Nicoline Artursson is said to have shared a message on social media alluding to James Argent’s friendship with ex Lydia Bright hours before he was arrested
James Argent’s girlfriend is said to have said a cryptic post on social media that reportedly resulted in an explosive row between the couple. The former TOWIE star, 37, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in Spain earlier this month.
He allegedly attacked his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson while on holiday and was arrested on May 5. Argent was taken into custody and reportedly received a suspended jail sentence and must carry out a “resocialisation course in the field of gender violence.”
The reality TV personality was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Artursson. Onlookers who witnessed the incident had told the Mirror that they heard an “aggressive man yelling” while also “throwing objects” from the terrace of a nearby house.
Argent admitted to “mistreating” Nicoline in the Court of Violence Against Women in Fuengirola. A row is said to have erupted between the couple after Nicoline shared a message on Instagram on May 4, alluding to his friendship with ex Lydia Bright.
According to The Sun, Nicoline shared a post at 10:44pm that read: “Is it OK if your boyfriend or girlfriend is talking and hanging out with their ex and the exes family daily and liking their Instagram posts etc?
“No kids involved with the ex. And then it shows up on your explore page that your partner showed that interest with them but they blame you for seeing it and now the ex is supposedly their ‘best friend’.
“I know what my family and friends think and certainly what I think. If you’re in a serious relationship with your partner you’ve got to respect your partner and leave the past in the past.”
The publication reports the post was deleted shortly afterwards. “Arg is so close with Lydia and her family, they are like his family,” a source told them.
“Nicoline’s post, in Arg’s eyes, was clearly about Lydia and he turned violent. He knows his behaviour was inexcusable. That’s why he told the police exactly what happened.”
The Mirror understands Nicoline’s mother arrived at the scene to aid her daughter and police transported them both to a hospital.
Nicoline has since been spotted for the first time since news of Argent’s arrest. She kept her head down as she walked alongside her mum in Spain.
Argent and Artursson met by chance in Marbella last summer and went public in September. One onlooker admitted to being “frightened” by the shouts, telling us: “We were frightened by his shouts. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing.”
They claimed Artursson appeared to be “physically and emotionally devastated” by what happened. When approached by The Mirror, the Guardia Civil confirmed the arrest, saying: “We can confirm Mr Argent was arrested by ‘Policia Local’ of Mijas for an alleged crime of domestic violence on 5th May.”
Speaking out for the first time since his arrest yesterday, the wedding singer said: “I am devastated by what’s happened.” He went on to tell the Daily Mail that he hadn’t relapsed, explaining: “I am still three years and four months clean and sober.”
Argent rose to fame as an original cast member on The Only Way Is Essex, appearing on the ITV series from 2010 until 2018. TOWIE suspended Argent from filming in October 2014 when he failed a drug test. He later attended rehab before returning to the series.
The Mirror has contacted Argent’s representatives for comment.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
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