Gemma Collins was driven to tears as she described being ‘knocked out’ by her ex-boyfriend just hours before entering the I am A Celebrity jungle.
The former Towie actress, 43, spent 72 hours on the ITV reality show in 2014 before withdrawing owing to panic attacks and deciding it “was not for her.”
She later stated that she withdrew from the tournament after being’really hard thrashed’ by her then-partner Alexander Moss the night before going to Australia. He disputed the charges.
Gemma revealed the frightening ordeal in a recent interview, claiming she was ‘knocked unconscious, attacked, and robbed’ by Moss before to filming I am A Celebrity.
She stated the police had arrived at her Essex house around 5 a.m.
She told the Everything I Know About Me podcast: ‘And I got on the plane it was so surreal and I was sat next to Laura Whitmore and I sort of had a chat with her about it and she was so kind, she was just like “Do your best, do your best”.’
Gemma continued: ‘I went into the jungle and I played it down a bit to be honest.
‘I was in a lot of pain I should have pressed charges but young, stupid obviously then I’m famous, I don’t want to bring too much attention to it.
Breaking down in tears, she said: ‘I stupidly got back with the person and yeah, I remember that being really stressful.’
Moss was sentenced to prison in 2019 after admitting to causing grievous bodily harm to his partner by breaking his arm.
His girlfriend, who was also left with a bloodied nose and bruises, was forced to jump from a window to escape after he threatened her life.
A judge at Chelmsford Crown Court sentenced Moss to 21 months in prison and issued him a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim for the next 21 months.
Gemma first accused Moss of assaulting her before I am a Celebrity in 2017, claiming he beat her from the neck down.
Neighbours called the police after hearing a row between Gemma and Moss, with officers saying at the time: ‘We were called to an address in Warley near Brentwood shortly before 1.15am today following reports a woman had been assaulted.
‘Officers went to the location and the victim was assessed by ambulance paramedics but did not need hospital treatment.
‘Police inquiries into the incident are continuing, a potential suspect has been identified and is being sought by police.’
Gemma is now engaged to businessman Rami Hawash, 49, and is planning to have three wedding ceremonies.
