James Argent has broken his silence after he was charged with domestic violence by addressing speculation he’s relapsed.
The former TOWIE star, 37, was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order against ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson, 32, after shoving the beauty queen during a violent row in Spain.
Fans have questioned whether James’s behaviour was sparked by a return to his wild drug and alcohol abusing days, which saw the reality favourite spend several stints in rehab.
But speaking exclusively to MailOnline, James confirmed he is still sober and the incident was not triggered by a relapse.
James said: ‘I haven’t relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober.
‘I am devastated by what’s happened.’
James Argent has broken his silence after he was charged with domestic violence by addressing speculation he’s relapsed
The former TOWIE stawas hr anded a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order against ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson
James told MailOnline: ‘I haven’t relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober. I am devastated by what’s happened’
On Wednesday, Nicoline was pictured for the first time since James was charged with domestic violence.
An eyewitness told MailOnline that Argent was heard ‘yelling’ before forcing Artursson out of a door, which caused her to fall down some steps before he ‘threw objects at her’.
Argent pleaded guilty to charges of domestic violence and has been handed a two year restraining order meaning he will be jailed if he contacts Artursson, who onlookers claimed looked ‘severely hurt’.
The witness, who did not want to be named, heard a loud commotion from a Costa del Sol property, which Argent shared with Swede Artursson, and has now recalled watching the ‘brutal’ row unfold.
‘We were out walking our dogs when we suddenly heard an aggressive man yelling. We saw him throwing objects from the terrace of a nearby house. We were frightened by his shouts.
‘Then, the door of the house opened, and the man threw a women out and she fell down the steps, causing her to scream. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. She was severely hurt and cried out for help.’
The witness said it appeared Argent ‘continued to throw things’ as Artursson ‘lay injured’ on the steps.
They said: ‘The situation escalated quickly, and we were scared and unsure of what to do. Another woman arrived to assist the injured woman, who was lying helplessly at the foot of the steps. At that moment, the man slammed the door and fled.
Nicoline was pictured for the first time on Wednesday since James was charged with domestic violence
The sighting comes as an eyewitness claimed to MailOnline that Argent was heard ‘yelling’ before forcing Artursson out of the door, which caused her to fall down some steps as he ‘threw objects at her’ (stock image)
The model was spotted for the first time since the arrest on Wednesday, wearing gym clothing as she typed away on her phone
‘Within moments, concerned bystanders had gathered to help the woman, and the police arrived swiftly.’
The witness said Artursson ‘appeared to be physically and emotionally devastated’.
‘We were in utter shock,’ they continued, adding that they were later told Artursson’s mother had arrived and taken her to hospital.
‘This woman deserves justice; she was left utterly devastated. We have never seen anyone so emotionally hurt as she was.
‘What we witnessed was a brutal act of abuse… there were many witnesses and bystanders who helped Artursson during the incident.’
They said the incident has likely ’caused significant harm to Artursson’s life for some time, and we want to encourage everyone to support her in this tragic case of abuse.’
Just days before the incident Argent and Artursson were pictured looking happy on the beach (picured May 2)
She was joined by her mother Pernille Artursson, who has been supporting her since the incident with her ex Argent
Arthursson wore a white T-shirt with a pair of black leggings and trainers
After tumbling down two steps, Artursson’s screams alerted neighbours to the incident, who then informed the police. She is understood to have needed hospital treatment.
Argent was arrested shortly after the incident in La Cala de Mijas and was kept in police cells for several hours before being dragged in front of a court in nearby Fuengirola.
During the hearing he admitted a domestic violence charge, with an insider telling The Sun the couple’s nine-month relationship is now over. He was handed a two-year restraining order which prohibits him from being within 250 metres of Artursson.
Artursson was in court to hear Argent admit the charge where he was handed a six-month suspended sentence. Argent was also told to a complete a ‘resocialisation course in the field of gender violence’.
Artursson has remained in Spain, while Argent is believed to have flown back to Essex.
The model was spotted for the first time since the arrest on Wednesday, wearing gym clothing as she typed away on her phone.
She was joined by her mother Pernille Artursson, who has been supporting her since the incident with her ex Argent.
Artursson covered her face with a pair of large sunglasses during their outing.
Speaking about how Argent is now, a friend told the Sun he is ‘extremely sorry’, saying: ‘He said he had a row with Nicoline and that he tried to end the argument.
‘James said he pushed Nicoline and that she fell. He is remorseful about what happened but is insisting he never meant any harm.’
Artursson was busy typing on her phone when she was pictured
It was a very different picture for the couple just days before the row, as Argent was seen looking smitten as he sunbathed on the beach with Artursson on May 2.
Reports had emerged he was ‘planning to take the relationship to the next level’ with the former Miss Sweden – nine months after meeting in a supermarket.
The reality star was said to have ‘never been happier’ after overcoming challenges with insiders saying two weeks ago that the model ‘loves him for who he is’.
‘He’s totally smitten. He’s definitely looking to pop the question and start their future together,’ a source told OK! Magazine earlier this month.
‘He has absolutely no doubt that she is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, they are absolutely soulmates, there’s no question about it.’
But now, Argent has been warned he will be put behind bars if he tries to contact Artursson in the next two years.
He was spared jail after striking a plea bargain deal with public prosecutors ahead of his May 5 trial at Fuengirola’s Court of Violence Against Women.
Police and court officials have not offered any detailed information about Argent’s reported physical assault, although the Spanish Civil Guard whose officers took Argent to court in custody has confirmed local police employed by Mijas Town Hall arrested him on May 5.
She was joined by her mother (pictured) who accompanied her to the hospital
Argent is not permitted to contact Artursson for two years
Andalucia’s High Court of Justice confirmed the suspended prison sentence and two-year restraining order as officials warned any violation of the strict conditions Argent agreed to abide by as part of his plea agreement would land him in jail.
He is understood to have taken the decision to admit his crime after being told he could face a more serious charge carrying a prison sentence of up to five years if he denied wrongdoing and forced a full trial which would have been held in open court and rescheduled for a later date.
Andalucia’s High Court of Justice said: ‘The matter was resolved in Fuengirola’s Court of Violence Against Women. There was a plea agreement on May 5 and a trial the same day.
‘In trials of this kind it is the prosecutor who suggests a conviction after negotiating with the defence. It implies that the defendant acknowledges the facts and admits the penalty.
‘The judgment is now final having been accepted. It consists of a sentence of six months in prison for the commission of a crime of mistreatment in the ambit of gender violence. It also implies a prohibition on approaching and communicating with the victim for a period of two years.
‘The convicted person will not enter prison as he had no criminal record in Spain.
‘For this reason, the sentence is suspended but on condition that, over a period of two years he does not approach or communicate with the victim and has to carry out a re-socialization course in the field of gender violence.
‘The suspension would be revoked if it fails to comply with the measures imposed.
‘The sentence will be sent to a criminal court that will be responsible for its execution and compliance with the measures implicit therein.’
Prison sentences of two years or less are normally suspended for first-time offenders in Spain. It is not clear if Argent has been ordered to pay his victim any compensation.
Argent confirmed their relationship last September, telling OK! magazine in their first interview together last November they were living together and were already looking ahead to starting a family together.
He gushed at the time: ‘Nicoline is absolutely beautiful. She’s a combination of Julia Roberts and Claudia Schiffer.’
She said: ‘James is so kind, funny and handsome. He’s a gentleman.’
Reliving the moment they met for the first time as Argent walked to a gig at Olivia’s La Cala, he said ‘All of a sudden I see this woman coming towards me. I was like, ‘Wow, she’s beautiful.’ She was just in her gym clothes, wearing no make-up. She’d actually just fed a stray cat.
‘We both smiled and kind of giggled at each other. And Nicoline carried on walking. Then I thought, ‘What have I got to lose?’ So I turned around and said, ‘Hey’.
‘Someone as beautiful as Nicoline, sometimes these sort of people are used to guys trying to talk to them and they’re not interested. But she was so friendly and made me comfortable.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .