EE; Joe Swash tabloid pap

[faceless]

Callous Enders Joe left me and baby penniless
By Lewis Panther & Gemma Calvert
www.newsoftheworld.co.uk

THE FIANCÉE of callous EastEnder Joe Swash has told how he ditched her and their seven-month-old son and moaned: "I'm too young to be a dad." The actor, who plays Mickey Miller, kicked Emma Sophocleous and baby Harry out of their home so he could return to the playboy lifestyle that once earned him the nickname ‘The Animal' because of his wild sexual appetites.

Distraught Emma, 23—who saved his life and nursed him back to health when he collapsed with deadly meningitis two years ago—branded him a heartless rat. She said: "Yes I've split with Joe and I'm very bitter and angry because he's left me with a seven-month-old baby to support." Just five months ago Joe, who celebrates his 26th birthday today, was gushing to a celebrity mag: "We're like a proper little family now. I really want a little girl now. Give it a year and I'm going to be bugging Emma for her." But after he'd trousered the £50,000 from a two-part OK! deal, he told Emma she was a ‘boring mum' and sent her and Harry packing without a penny.

Speaking for the first time about the break-up, Emma said: "He sold the story to OK! magazine and kept all the money. Now I have to support a seven-month-old baby on my own. To be honest, I'm struggling at the moment. He has left us totally in lurch. I feel so let down. I thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives together."

The split followed a huge row in Amsterdam during a pre-Christmas break, arranged to give the couple well-earned time out after their first six months as parents. When they got back to Britain, he ended their three-year relationship and told Emma to get out of the posh new home they had recently moved into. Another couple now live in the gated property in Woodford Green, Essex, while Emma and Harry have found refuge in nearby Loughton at the home of her parents, Alison and Costas. "I moved out of my old place to move in with Joe, so I'm officially homeless now," said Emma. And with cruelly ironic timing Mickey is left holding the baby in EastEnders this week when soap sister Dawn leaves him with her newborn Summer while she deals with personal problems.

Joe and Emma started dating in December 2004 and he immediately dropped his ‘Animal' lifestyle. The loved-up star moved Emma into his north London home and traded the club scene for cosy nights in. After she endured a 36-hour labour to give birth to Harry, Joe said: "After seeing her go through all that pain, we're much closer." But now he's turning his back on Emma and fatherhood—and she blames his obsession with partying for the split. "My only fault is that I didn't like nightclubs and I'm a ‘boring mum'," she said. "Joe wanted me to get into modelling in magazines and for Harry to follow in his footsteps in showbusiness—but I wanted a private life."

The actor showed his heartless side before—in 2005 after she had saved his life and spent five weeks nursing him through meningitis. Emma dialled 999 when she found Joe collapsed in bed, partially paralysed and unable to speak. He was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with viral meningoencephalitis, a potentially fatal condition which starts with flu-like symptoms and causes inflammation of the brain tissue. Joe eventually pulled through, but instead of taking it easy and recuperating he began a heavy round of partying to celebrate.

Emma thought he was on a path to self-destruction and ended the relationship in frustration. Joe was then linked to his ex EastEnders co-star Brooke Kinsella, but soon got back with Emma. Shortly after, she fell pregnant and he declared: "I've calmed down lately because of my girlfriend. "I'm older and looking to settle down. I'm so broody and I'd love kids! I think I'll make a fun dad! I think I want three."

After the birth, Joe played the perfect dad. Emma recalled: "Joe was really kind and sweet—he was okay before but he was extra gooey after. I saw another side to him and it was lovely." But she's seeing his true colours now as she struggles to go it alone as a single mum, searching for a job she can juggle between caring for Harry. Before Emma arrived on the scene, he was linked to a string of women and looks set to head down that road again.

Last night Joe said: "It is a matter of deep regret that my relationship with Emma has ended. I'm saddened she has chosen to make so many false statements about me, particularly while resolving the issue of contact with our son. I would like to make it very clear that I will always provide for our son. It's unfortunate when relationships break down. I think it is always best that when they do so matters involving children are dealt with in private."

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[Skylace]

Jesus, sounds like a bad situation all around. If all she said is true he's a right bastard and if she is making it up to get sympathy she's a bitch. Poor kid either way.

[pirtybirdy]

It's always the kids that get screwed in the end. Especially if the parents use them as pawns in their battles with each other.

[eefanincan]

You're right Pirty, it's always the kids that get screwed. Hopefully he won't remember much of this and maybe they'll have things sorted out before he's too much older.

[misslisalynn]

Shame on him if this is true and more shame on her if it isn't true. I don't feel bad for her because she knew what he was like before she got pregnant, I feel bad for the baby that didn't ask to be brought into this mess.