Exclusive
ROXY'S PAIN
Roxanne Pallett reveals terrifying details of abusive relationship in new interview after Ryan Thomas ‘punch’ incident
CELEBRITY Big Brother star Roxanne Pallett has opened up about the shocking physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of an ex-boyfriend.
The former Emmerdale star has been slammed by celebs and fans after she accused Ryan Thomas of hitting her in the CBB house, landing him with an official warning.
5
Ex Corrie actor Thomas was clearly play fighting, but Roxanne called him a 'woman beater' and he ended up getting an official warning.
Now we can reveal Roxanne's 'overreaction' may have been down to the months of torment she went through in a previous relationship.
The actress, 35, says she was emotionally and physically tortured by the unknown ex, who would throw bricks through her window, grab her round the throat and drag her round by the hair.
Speaking in 2017, an emotional Roxanne described how the ex's controlling behaviour gradually became more and more sinister.
She said: "I was in a relationship with him for over a year. Within a couple of months, he was slowly deciding everything and would control what we did, where we ate, who we saw. I would have to check in with him constantly and he would disguise this possessiveness as passion.
"I soon began to lose friends and he even started to tell me what I couldn't wear, including make-up or skirts. I would say it was a slow burning process over the space of a year.
5
5
Most read in TV and Showbiz
"He became emotionally and mentally abusive slowly during the course of the relationship and then he started to become physically abusive.
"Towards the start of the relationship he threw a brick through my bedroom window when we had fallen out one evening and I wouldn't answer his calls.
"First it was smashing things and punching walls beside me, to scare me. Then after 6 months he would push me, grab my arms and even drag me around by my hair or throat in attempt to certify his frustration with me, which he would say I caused.
"Another occasion after a row he threw my phone and it smashed. I remember being on my hands and knees trying to piece the sim card and battery etc back together. He then kicked and stamped on it while it was in my hands and my knuckles and fingers were throbbing in pain.
5
"He grabbed me by my hair and said 'get up you're making a show of yourself' through gritted teeth and I remember he was walking whist holding onto me by my hair as I tried to find my feet so I was ultimately being dragged for a few metres by my hair."
After that terrifying incident, a neighbour called the police, but Roxanne was too scared to press charges. Those kind of attacks became more and more common and eventually Roxanne plucked up the courage to leave him.
She said: "When I finally left him for good it was because I knew nothing would ever be as bad as constantly being on edge. I knew I had nothing to lose.
"I remember texting my mum 'please come and get me' and she replied 'on my way, be two hours' and she drove from Carlisle unbeknown to her the full story of what I was actually escaping.
Roxanne Pallett says she 'doesn't feel comfortable' sleeping in the same room as Ryan on Celebrity Big Brother
5
"We packed her car up with as much of my stuff as we could before he got home and I returned to Carlisle to my mum's house. That was it. I got a new mobile number and even blocked him from my email, but he rang our landline a few times late at night."
The Celebrity Big Brother incident kicked off last night when Roxanne and Ryan appeared to be play fighting in as Roxanne was walking to the bedroom.
Ryan, 34, seemed to catch her a little bit too hard, as she called out to him: "Ow that bloody hurt," before calling him a "woman beater".
She later went to the diary room and demanded to speak to a producer about something that made her "feel very uncomfortable".
Celebrity Big Brother's Ryan Thomas given an official warning over his play fight with Roxanne Pallett
Later in the show, Roxanne explained what happened and called for Ryan be removed from the house. She said: "A boy who's punched me repeatedly, deliberately... he punched me like a boxer punches a bag. There was no banter, it wasn't a joke... I can't believe you're letting someone stay in that's done that, it's not on.
Big Brother tried to reassure the star they are taking the matter seriously. Ryan was then called into the diary room and given a formal warning about "unacceptable behaviour."
Roxanne had been slammed by furious viewers who claimed that Ryan hardly touched her during the playfight and even Ryan's girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh called for the former Emmerdale actress to be kicked off the show.
But after the incident, a shaken up Roxanne felt so scared she slept in a separate room to Ryan.
Since then, Ryan's friends and family have piled in to defend him - and Roxanne's family have deleted her Twitter.
If you are worried about your relationship or that of a friend or family member, you can contact the Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge, on 0808 2000 247 or visit www.womensaid.org.uk
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220.
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics