Alison Hammond breaks silence as suspect is freed on bail after arrest for ‘blackmailing’ This Morning star
THIS Morning host Alison Hammond has broken her silence on social media after a suspect was freed following a 'blackmailing' arrest.
The TV star took to her Instagram to share a selfie from her girls' night out with a bunch of her celebrity pals.
Alison, 48, headed out alongside her This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby.
She was also joined by Spice Girls star Emma Bunton, singer Nicole Appleton and two more of her close pals.
"Girls therapy night, needed that," Alison penned to her following, as she smiled wide for the camera in the snap.
The mum-of-one looked glamorous as she dolled up with make-up, and donned an animal-print shirt for the evening.
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Her friends and fans flooded the comments section to gush over Alison, sending her "big love"; as they gathered to support her.
It comes after a suspect arrested over alleged blackmail threats to Alison was released on bail yesterday.
The man, aged 36, spent 24 hours in custody after he was arrested by West Midlands police on Saturday.
Police said they were taking the TV star’s allegations “very seriously” and the probe was “progressing swiftly”.
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They acted after The Sun exclusively told how the This Morning host was confronted by a man ordering her to hand over thousands or face damaging tales being spread to end her career.
It came as it was also revealed Alison is to step in all this week to replace Phillip Schofield on the ITV daytime show - while he’s away.
Alison bought the blackmailer a £5,000 BMW as his demands increased. And he threatened “I’ll Ruin You” if she failed to lavish money on him.
Alison, who is to be the new host of Channel Four’s The Great British Bake Off, told a friend: “I’ve been so naive and feel so stupid.”
Alison showed detectives the sinister messages after summoning the courage to report him.
She told officers of her eight-month ordeal at the hands of the man, a former friend who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Pals said Alison was scared for her and her family’s safety after “turning off the tap” of cash to report him.
She told a pal: “I trusted this guy who, it turns out, was only interested in my money. I thought he valued our friendship. I now know he only wanted me to fund his life of luxury.”
Despite the man’s criminal past and issues with drugs, Alison forged an unlikely friendship with him.
She offered to pay for him to attend rehab - only for him to take advantage of her caring nature.
She told a pal: “Out of the blue he said he could tell lies to make people think less of me. It was alarming. I’m a very generous person and was happy to spend money on him. I wanted to help him.”
Alison tried to break off the friendship multiple times but he always wheedled his way back into her life.
The threats and exploitation Alison was subjected to boiled over last week.
She told a colleague: “He sent me a message stating that if I didn’t give him £3,500 he would ruin me.
“I was flabbergasted. I’m still in shock. To have a friend seeking to blackmail and extort me is just heartbreaking. I had to realise I’d reached the end and go to the police.”
Vulnerable Alison sat down with West Midlands Police to report her ordeal last Tuesday.
She bravely continued to star on This Morning with millions of viewers oblivious to her real-life heartbreak.
She sobbed to a pal: “Now, I’m genuinely scared of what this man might do to me now that I’ve stopped with the handouts and reported him.
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“It’s terrifying. I trusted this man and our friendship. But it was all so he could use me for my money. Now I feel so stupid.
“It is as though a veil has been lifted from my eyes.”