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EastEnders star Dean Gaffney flouts lockdown rules AGAIN with Josh Ritchie at hotel 200 miles from his home – in Telford
EX-EastEnders star Dean Gaffney flouted lockdown rules again by driving 200 miles from Essex to Telford to meet Joshua Ritchie for a drink.
Celebs Go Dating’s Joshua Ritchie hosted a secret do at a posh country hall - however Dean insists he wasn't at the main bash but instead met his pal for a drink beforehand.
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A representative for Dean tells The Sun Online: "Dean was categorically not at the house party.
"He was invited but just went to the hotel beforehand to meet Josh with a few other people who weren't going to the party."
Just last month The Sun told how the dad-of-two was guest of honour at a fancy dress bash at a party held in Huddersfield, also more than 200 miles from his home.
According to one partygoer, The Hall in Childs Ercall, Shropshire, which is described as a "beautifully unique and incredibly spacious two double bedroom first-floor apartment set within a grand country hall", was hired out for £3,000 with the party starting at 5pm on Saturday and ending in the early hours of Sunday.
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He said: "It was a birthday party but there were a lot of guests, I know the homeowner and he told me how much it had been rented out for.
"People began arriving on Saturday afternoon in minibuses and it was bring your own alcohol.
"Things got started at around 5pm on Saturday and were supposed to end at 2.30am on Sunday, but by that time there were girls passed out on the sofa, people scattered across the place and it was difficult to get anyone out.
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"A few people stayed in the guest house which was planned and a few people just left when they woke up, there wasn’t any trouble or anything broken or stolen, but just obviously everyone was breaking the government rules and knew they shouldn’t be partying.
"But no one really seemed to care, it wasn’t like people had their phones taken at the door, everything was posted to social media."
Police have slammed the revellers which included a host of glamour models and reality TV stars after footage of the partying emerged on social media.
Superintendent Mo Lansdale said: "We understand people’s frustrations due to the current restrictions but have to stress gatherings such as this are not allowed under the current rules.
"We would continue to ask everyone to play their part and follow the regulations in place."
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After the party, Ritchie bragged to his his 939k followers in now deleted Instagram posts, saying: "Wow last night was a madness! I would like to say thank you to Kayci and G, they shut the deck down.
"What a do it was, what a do."
It’s the second time in just over two weeks Gaffney has been spotted flouting social distancing rules.
The dad-of-two was guest of honour at a fancy dress bash at a party held in Huddersfield, more than 200 miles from Gaffney’s Essex home, with guests arriving from all over the country.
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Guests, including a stripper and glamour model, were seen in racy outfits including one wearing a Princess Leia’s infamous bikini from the Star Wars Return Of The Jedi film.
Footage from the Telford night showed people jumping into an indoor swimming pool, hundreds packed into rooms throughout the house.
Glamour models, reality TV stars and presenters travelled from across the country to attend the party and to post footage all over social media despite knowingly breaking lockdown rules.
Four DJs provided the music and Instagram posts from the night suggested it was held for non-league goalkeeper Dany Taberner and Jay Bigz, who appeared with Josh Ritchie on Geordie Shore.
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Under current government guidelines groups of more than six people cannot meet outside, and no one is allowed to visit friends and family inside of their homes unless in a support bubble.
Ritchie has also previously shared a video of himself and a group of friends at a beach party at the beginning of June.
Josh also allegedly threw a party with 80 people at his home in Bolton before the beach party and is said to have attended another party at his family home and a gathering at a friend’s house.
It comes after he seemingly joked about previous reports that he broke lockdown rules several times over the bank holiday weekend last month.
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On Twitter he asked his 155k followers: “How’s everyone’s weekend been?” and told a fan his weekend had been “Two words: HEAVY DOOOO” and liked a comment that he was a “naughty boy”.
Assistant chief constable Rachel Jones said: “The key to stopping these events is early intelligence.”
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“The most up-to-date government guidance about coronavirus says in part: "It is not yet possible for people who are not in support bubbles to meet inside other people’s homes – that remains against the law unless covered by one of the limited exceptions.
"This is critical to helping us control the virus and keep people safe.
"It is a criminal offence to: meet indoors with anyone who is not a member of your household or, from 13 June, your support bubble, except for specific exceptions set out in law… [or] incite others to break the rules by e.g. inviting people to a party."
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