FROM the outside they appeared to be a picture perfect couple, with James Argent telling friends he thought he’d found “the one”;; in Swedish model Nicoline Artursson.
But today The Sun can reveal the former star just hours after she put a cryptic Instagram post online which alluded to his close friendship with his ex-partner .
saw by Spanish and thrown in the cells, before he pleaded guilty to , who was taken to hospital.
The post, which was deleted not long after posted it to her 32,000 followers around 10:44pm on May 4, read: “Had an interesting conversation with a friend.
“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 with your partner you’ve got to respect your partner and leave the past in the past.”;;
The innocent post led to a deeply disturbing turn of events inside Nicoline’s home in .
Just hours after Nicoline put her thoughts online, turned violent at her home in La Cala de Mijas on the Costa del Sol.
He threw Nicoline’s clothes from the balcony, before grabbing her and pulling her towards the front door where he pushed her and she fell down some steps.
It was her screams which alerted neighbours to her plight, with the police called by those concerned by the shocking incident which was unfolding in their sleepy neighbourhood.
Those close to said he believed Nicoline was alluding to Lydia, until 2012, in the post.
And shockingly he appeared so furious with her comments he turned on her.
“Arg is so close with and her family, they are like his family,”;; a friend explains.
“They speak all the time and even though they’ve not been together for years they have a bit of an unbreakable bond.
“He treats her and her family like his own and he is very protective of them.
“Nicoline’s post, in Arg’s eyes, was clearly about Lydiaand he turned violent.
“He knows his behaviour was inexcusable. That’s why he told the police exactly what happened.”;;
‘Shocking and awful’
Following the incident, on May 5, James was arrested and taken to a police cell.
The same day he admitted a charge of in a Spanish .
He was given a and a two-year restraining order to stop him seeing or even contacting Nicoline.
Those close to James say Lydia has rallied to him following the incident but admit that his wider friendship circle was shocked to see The Sun’s front page today.
It’s not the James people know
Friend
“It’s not the James people know,”;; the friend explains.
“But seeing him admitting to a violence against Nicoline is shocking and awful.
“James has been speaking about his version of events to those closest to him. But the people who know him but are a bit more detached were so shocked by it.
“The story has been sent around by people who know him and they are talking about how shocked and upset they were by it.
“Friends like Lydia have rallied to him. She will be there for him through thick and thin.”;;
Friends like Lydia have rallied to him. She will be there for him through thick and thin
The violent incident which played out on Monday ended for good.
He is now barred from contacting her or approaching her for two years.
And while James is holed up at home in , and has yet to speak, Nicoline has remained in Spain.
When approached for comment she declined to speak.
Friends of James say they are still reeling from the horror of what unfolded that night.
Looking back over the past few months, none of them would have foreseen this coming.
The pair appeared happier than ever on holiday back in February, where they were seen in .
He last shared a photograph of her on February 14 and told his followers on Instagram he was looking forward to their future.
James said: “My Swedish .
“Our next chapter has begun and I’m so excited for what’s to come this year. I love you.”;;
