Exclusive
'HE LOOKS LIKE ME'
Jeremy McConnell begs Stephanie Davis to ‘stop parading your baby around like the FA Cup and give me a DNA test’
Model claims his ex-girlfriend is using their infant son for sympathy
JEREMY McConnell has shared his anguish at being forced to watch his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Davis 'parade baby Caben around like the FA Cup' - and begged she give him the paternity test he craves.
The 26-year-old has broken a nine month vow of silence to plead with the former Hollyoaks actress to finally let him know if he is the father of little Caben-Albi, the son she gave birth on January 13th.
9
In an exclusive interview with The Sun online, Jeremy begged the 23-year-old to stop playing games and confirm who the little boy's dad is once and for all.
He said: "I do believe I am the father. I want the baby to be mine, I can see a resemblance.
"I never said the baby wasn't mine, all I said was that there was a doubt because she was with other men in the first two weeks of April.
"Before we went to Cape Verde, we were broken up for two weeks - and I have no idea who she was sleeping with then."
Jeremy claims that during their many splits, Stephanie would contact him to gloat about spending time and sleeping with other men - and admits that he also behaved badly.
He adds that their relationship went toxic just weeks after leaving the Celebrity Big Brother house after the couple fell in love in front of the eyes of the nation - including Steph's then-boyfriend Sam Reece.
9
Away from the show, the actress struggled to deal with Jez's new status as a reality TV sex symbol with jealous rows and "emotional blackmail" forcing them apart.
In fact the on-off nature of their relationship allowed for infidelity on both sides, and Jeremy admits that his "wandering eye" didn't help reassure his fragile girlfriend.
The pair finally split after a row at a nightclub in Basingstoke on April 29. This is the last time Jeremy and Stephanie saw one another.
Steph told Jeremy that she was pregnant a month after their bitter split at the end of April 2016.
9
Jeremy smiles as he recalls the moment that Steph rang him to tell him that he was to become a dad.
He said: "I was delighted. I was buzzing. I told her I loved her and I would be there for her.
"My initial reaction was to go straight to her... but I didn't.
"Maybe I regret it a little now, but I know I've done the right thing.
"Things were so bad between us that going back to her could have been harmful for her and the baby.
"I loved her so much, I didn't want to take that risk."
9
Since Stephanie told the world she was pregnant in a hastily deleted comment on Jez's Instagram, he has stayed away from her and stayed silent.
In part he claims this is because he didn't want to rile the fragile star and cause her and the baby undue stress, but also because he felt he couldn't reach out to her privately without her relaying their conversation to her fans on Twitter.
Jeremy said: "It's been killing me to stay quiet.
"People think I'm in denial, but I just want reassurance. That's it.
"If I'm the dad I will be delighted and I'll be civil with Steph. I want us to work together and do the best for our son.
"But she's making it really hard for me at the moment."
9
One of the reasons Jeremy thinks Steph is delaying giving him a paternity test is because she was hurt so badly by their split that she is enjoying allowing him to be portrayed as an uncaring, feckless father - which is something he strenuously denies.
He said: "She's happy getting the sympathy.
"She's getting a TV show out of it, she's taking the baby on a free holiday, she's got her OK! deals, her magazine spreads... I just think it's horrible parading him around.
9
"The baby has only just come out of the womb and already she's saying on a video that he's already had his first modelling shoot?
"I would not be in to it. It's just money making.
"She doesn't want me involved.
"Everything I see it's all about 'me and the baby'.
"She's parading him around like he was the FA Cup. Stephanie is living off me and the baby, simple."
9
Jeremy not only believes that Stephanie is using his son as a form of income but as a tool to move from actress to full time reality star.
He said: "Having a baby has changed the public's perception of Steph - now she's a powerful, single woman doing it all on her own.
9
"That's her image changed. Her work has changed - she was never going to get any of that Loose Women stuff before.
"I'm pleased to see her doing so well, but I can't help but feel she's used the baby to defame my name."
Jeremy hopes that one day he can look back at this time with Caben-Albi and Steph from a much better place.
Related stories
He said: "Imagine what the baby will see in a few years after all this s***?
"That's why I'm doing this. The baby needs to look back and see he has a reasonable father.
"But the sad thing is he will understand my point of view but then he'll look at Steph and ask 'why didn't you give dad a DNA test straight away?'
"She is the one doing this, she just wants sympathy.
9
"I look at the baby and it does resemble me. All I want is that clarification.
"I'm a good bloke and I will do anything for that kid if he's mine."
Jeremy said: "I won't be getting back with Steph - even with the baby there it will still be toxic.
"I want to set the record straight and move on with my life, hopefully with my gorgeous boy.
"If she is so sure I am the dad why won't she let me have a paternity test so I can see my child and build a relationship with him?
"I loved Steph and I want to do right by her, but I'm not having anyone use a baby against me.
"I won't let her destroy my life."
A representative for Stephanie Davis issue disputed Jeremy's claims of infidelity in a strongly worded statement.
They said: "Jeremy has spent nine months claiming he isn't the father of baby Caben, to suddenly announce there is a similarity shows he is clearly deluded and feeling the pressure.
"Stephanie was at all times faithful to Jeremy. She confirmed to Jeremy that she was pregnant ten days after the relationship had ended.
"Any images or video that Jeremy refers to are 2-3 weeks after Stephanie had announced that she was pregnant and any suggestion that she was unfaithful to him are to detract away from his numerous infidelities whilst in the relationship.
"Jeremy has caused Stephanie massive amount of stress, pressure and upset throughout her pregnancy, ruining what for most women is one of the most special times of their lives.
"Quite frankly he should be ashamed of himself."
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220
Topics