Love Island stars that have been arrested over drug busts, drunken brawls and dangerous dogs – as Kyle Ashman pulls out of new series following machete attack claims

Over the span of ten years, numerous aspirants of reality shows have attempted to establish their reputation within the Love Island villa.

Although a number of celebrities have leveraged their time on the program to accumulate millions of social media followers and secure lucrative brand endorsements, some have unfortunately made news for misconduct.

It’s been revealed this week that one of the celebrities scheduled to join the villa next week has withdrawn from the program following their clearance by the police regarding a machete attack in February. During this incident, masked assailants invaded a wake and attacked a father with a blade.

Kyle Ashman was among two individuals taken into custody by police, yet due to a lack of additional actions required, he was freed. He’s since verified that he played no part in the occurrence. However, he’s decided to depart from the ITV program despite this.

Yet he is far from the only star to have had a brush with the law in recent years. 

As a die-hard Islanders fan, I’ve been stunned to learn that some of our beloved team members have found themselves in legal trouble. They’re facing charges ranging from alleged drug dealing and reckless driving, to even having a pet that’s out of control. It’s hard to believe this is the same group we cheer for on the field!

Now, TopMob takes a look into the many lawsuits of Love Island stars.  

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Ellie Brown – dangerous driving  

In the year 2021, television personality Ellie Brown received a six-month suspension of her driver’s license and a fine amounting to £1,660 due to being caught speeding at approximately 101 mph.

On June 5, 2019, the TV personality, aged 27, was observed exceeding the 70mph speed limit while driving a Mercedes-Benz GLC on the Cudworth stretch of the M42 in Warwickshire.

In Coventry Magistrates Court, Ellie argued that a driving ban would bring about ‘unusual difficulty’ or ‘severe inconvenience,’ since her job as an influencer necessitates frequent travel across the country.

Nevertheless, her appeal was denied, leading to six demerit points on her driver’s license, accumulating a grand total of 12 points. This total triggered an immediate six-month suspension.

At a previous trial, Ellie admitted her guilt. This current case has been postponed to give Ellie the opportunity to argue for possible financial losses, since she freelances via an agency.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an insightful scenario: Every seven days, Ellie takes home approximately £2,000 after taxes have been deducted from her income. Interestingly, it was established that her traffic offense would not jeopardize the employment of others. With this knowledge in mind, the decision was made to penalize her with points rather than causing undue hardship elsewhere.

Speaking to the podium, she shared with Metro that she’s been independently employed for approximately 2.5 years. After appearing on a television program, she relocated to Manchester to pursue modeling and various media opportunities.

‘I frequently travel to various locations for photoshoots, which can range from London, Scotland, Leeds, or even across the entire UK. My fashion brand’s manufacturing facility is situated in Leicester, and I often find myself commuting there with a substantial amount of merchandise.’

Ellie, who relocated from Newcastle to Cheshire following her stint on Love Island, stated: “I’ve taken the lesson to heart, and I haven’t been involved in any other incidents. I’ve admitted my mistakes and I sincerely apologize.

Neil Gallagher, who was chairing the hearing, asked whether the ban might affect jobs at the Leicester factory. In response, she stated that she was unable to collaborate with the employer since she couldn’t travel to Leicester.

After careful consideration, the chairman explained to her, ‘Given the unique nature of the situation, the bar is set extremely high. Unfortunately, in this instance, we don’t believe these exceptional circumstances apply to you.’

He commented: “At present, you’re earning a substantial amount. You’ve indeed achieved a lot, but unfortunately, the ban applies to you as well, so you’ll need to find alternative means of transportation within the country.

When Ellie was caught speeding, she explained that her trip south from Manchester had taken over five hours longer than expected due to significant delays.

Beyond just earning six points, I’ve also got some not-so-fun news to share. On top of that, I’ve been hit with a hefty fine of £1,660, a court cost of £110, and a victim surcharge of another £167. Quite the price to pay for being a dedicated fan!

In the year 2018, Ellie made her grand entrance into the Love Island villa as a surprise addition, and she soon developed a romantic connection with wealthy seltzer company proprietor, Charlie Brake. However, their relationship didn’t last much longer after that initial spark.

During her stint on the program, Ellie was notoriously involved in a heated argument with Georgia Steel. This altercation led to Ellie being criticized for her harsh and offensive choice of words.

The former business development manager now makes a living as an influencer. 

Kaz Crossley – drugs bust 

In February 2023, Kaz Crossley, a former contestant from the fourth season, made news when she was interrogated and temporarily detained in the United Arab Emirates under allegations related to drug crimes.

2020 found me, an ardent admirer, unwittingly captivated by a disturbing incident involving my beloved reality star. In the glamorous cityscape of Dubai, my cherished idol was secretly filmed, apparently partaking in a concerning act involving white powder, all orchestrated by her manipulative and controlling ex-beau.

Three years ago, Kaz was held at the Abu Dhabi airport during a flight change en route to Thailand, a destination she claimed was for voluntary work.

According to an informant, it became evident that her identity triggered concerns (or raised a red flag) when her passport was scrutinized in Abu Dhabi, leading to her imprisonment for a week, where she was detained with a fellow mother and her half-year-old infant.

Following a four-day detention at Dubai’s Central Prison for questioning regarding the video, the reality star was freed without any formal charges being filed against them.

In August 2023, Kaz finally spoke up publicly regarding the ordeal, emotionally sharing the story with GK Barry on her Saving Grace podcast. She revealed that it was her anonymous ex who leaked the video showing her using white powder.

Or in a more conversational tone:
Kaz decided to speak out about the incident from August 2023 on her Saving Grace podcast, where she confided in GK Barry. She disclosed that it had been her former partner who exposed the video of her taking lines of white powder without her consent.

She asserted that the event was the most terrifying incident she had ever encountered, having been subjected to a thorough body search and detained alongside convicted criminals within a jail cell.

Kaz, aged 30, stated that it had a devastating impact on her mental wellbeing and professional life, admitting she reached a point of struggle as she lost all her business partnerships, fell into depression, and seldom ventured outdoors.

In a recent change, Dubai has relaxed its drug laws. Now, first-time offenders are sentenced to a minimum of three months in prison, along with a fine ranging from approximately £4,559 to £22,799. Earlier, even a single instance of drug use would have resulted in a minimum sentence of four years in prison.

Following incarceration, individuals are subsequently expelled to their native land, such as England (Kaz’s homeland) for him, and prohibited from re-entering the United Arab Emirates. Penalties for drug smuggling may lead to capital punishment.

Initially, Kaz made her debut on Love Island back in 2018, entering the scene as a surprise element during Casa Amor. Notably, she successfully diverted Josh Donnel’s affection away from his previous partner, Georgia Steel.

In the year 2025, she went back to her villa for the All-Star edition of the show, but midway through, she and her partner, Montel McKenzie, were eliminated.

Originally a makeup artist, she now splits her days between the UK and Thailand since establishing Combat Collective – a group dedicated to strengthening women through martial arts disciplines.

Rebecca Gormley, Biggs Chris, Eva Zapico and Jamie Clayton -‘finfluencer’ scheme

In May 2024, a collective of nine well-known personalities, including Rebecca Gormley from Love Island, Biggs Chris, Eva Zapico, and Jamie Clayton, were accused by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for their involvement in an unapproved foreign exchange trading scheme that was advertised on social media platforms.

It’s claimed that Emmanuel Nwanze and Holly Thompson utilized an Instagram account, “holly_fx_trends,” to offer guidance on purchasing and trading Contracts for Differences (CFDs), even though they didn’t have the necessary approval to do so, according to the Financial Conduct Authority.

Investing in Contracts for Difference (CFDs) is considered a risky venture, as statistics show that approximately 8 out of 10 investors end up losing their initial investment.

It’s claimed that Emmanuel was accused of giving money to Love Island stars Lauren Goodge and Yazmin Oukhellou, as well as TOWIE’s Lauren Goodge and Geordie Shore’s Scott Timlin, and another star named Yazmin, in order for them to endorse his Instagram account to their collective 4.5 million followers.

They each face one count of issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions.

Eva made an appearance in court last September; however, she has not yet entered a plea regarding one charge of distributing unauthorized financial promotions on approximately April 2, 2020.

Judge Sally-Ann Hales informed the defendant, “You might be required to return here on October 24th. Your current bail conditions remain the same.

At a prior court case, Biggs, Rebecca, Jamie, Scott, Lauren, Yazmin, Emmanuel, and Holly all refuted claims that they had distributed unapproved financial advertisements.

In simple terms, the judge announced that the influencers, who were freed without any specific conditions, are expected to face trial in the year 2027.

The Love Island stars all appeared on the first winter season of Love Island in 2020. 

While appearing on the program, model Rebecca and auto mechanic Biggs started dating. Their romance continued even after the show wrapped up and a nationwide lockdown ensued, spanning over an 18-month period.

Previously, they were featured in the Netflix show “Cheat: Unfinished Business,” where they attempted but ultimately couldn’t restore their romantic connection.

Rebecca, aged 27, currently functions as an influencer, while Biggs, at 33, is the proprietor of BMC Properties, a company specializing in purchasing, selling, and renovating homes.

In the course of the program, Eva, previously a recruitment consultant at age 26, developed a romantic relationship with Nas Majeed. Now she operates as an influencer.

Jamie’s stay at the villa didn’t last long; he was removed from the program merely seven days following his grand entrance as a surprise contestant.

The Scottish recruitment consultant, 32, has since opened his own consultancy in Dubai. 

Jack Fincham – drug driving and dog attack 

In the month of January, Jack Fincham, who won Love Island, was given a six-week jail sentence following his conviction for possessing a dog that was uncontrollably dangerous.

Originally, the reality television personality received a sentence due to an incident involving his black Cane Corso dog named Elvis, who injured runner Robert Sudell in Swanley, Kent, back in September 2022.

Jack, who had pleaded guilty to the charge, faced two separate incidents involving his dog. 

Initially, the runner was hurt due to the first attack, but during another occurrence in June 2024, a woman’s calf was seized, fortunately without any reported injuries.

The court imposed a prison term on Fincham due to his disobedience towards the rules established following the initial assault, specifically for not keeping Elvis on a leash and putting a muzzle on him.

Nevertheless, Jack’s lawyers managed to convince the court that immediate incarceration was excessive. As a result of their successful appeal in March, Jack will no longer serve time in prison. However, he is still bound by stringent rules concerning Elvis.

Initially given an 18-month suspended sentence for a drug-driving conviction in March 2024, the term of suspension was lengthened by an additional three months.

In accordance with the ruling made at the magistrates’ court, Fincham was instructed to settle a total of £3,680. This sum includes a payment towards kenneling expenses amounting to £2,000, a fine of £961, and £200 in compensation for the runner.

In 2024, Jack was also spared jail after speeding his £50,000 car during a cocaine binge.

On the A2 in Kent, he found himself at the wheel of his BMW 520D, traveling along the emergency lane, when a police officer pulled him over.

Later on, Jack confessed to operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs and failing to exercise proper caution behind the wheel. Moreover, he acknowledged his guilt in driving without valid insurance and utilizing fraudulent license plates.

He was given a 12-week sentence suspended for 18 months. It was then extended for three months.

Later on, Jack asserted that his life had become unmanageable, with him squandering approximately 1 million pounds on gambling while struggling with alcohol and substance abuse issues.

In 2018, I was fortunate enough to be crowned the winner of the fourth season of Love Island alongside my partner, Dani Dyer. We walked away with a combined prize of £50,000.

Or

In the year 2018, I shared the victory of the fourth series of Love Island with Dani Dyer. Our win earned us a joint prize of £50,000.

In February, it was disclosed that he resumed his job as an office supplies and stationery salesperson, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Financial Trading.

Chloe Crowhurst – drink driving 

2017 saw Chloe Crowhurst being accused of driving under the influence, following her arrest for driving while still intoxicated the morning after a lively Halloween party where alcohol was consumed.

The television personality was found to have exceeded the legal alcohol limit during a breathalyzer examination by the authorities as they pulled her over upon seeing her depart from a Holiday Inn in Crawley, West Sussex, following an evening of socializing.

The evening prior, Chloe was enjoying herself at the Shocktober festive event hosted at Tulleys Farm in Crawley. Subsequently, she continued her night at Moko club, a venue that remains active until 3 am.

The following day, an observer who appeared concerned contacted the authorities upon observing her depart from the hotel, as reported by The Sun.

Police then stopped a car matching hers and gave her a breath test, which she failed. 

Chloe’s manager later apologised for the reality starlet’s ‘error in judgement’ in a statement.

It read: ‘Chloe is fully aware that her public profile comes hand in hand with responsibility.

Currently, she prefers not to say more than expressing her deepest regrets and heartfelt apologies to her loved ones, friends, and well-wishers, for any inconvenience or awkwardness she might have inadvertently created.

Anna Vakili – drunken brawl 

Anna Vakili was arrested in 2021 after a boozy fight with her sister Mandi. 

The television personality asserted that she phoned the authorities due to concerns about being abducted, however, she was ultimately apprehended for her involvement in a physical altercation.

The sisters were taken into custody under suspicion of having committed a common assault. Subsequently, no charges were filed against them.

Anna confessed that she often gets into arguments with her younger sister following evenings out when they’ve had too much alcohol.

She shared with The Sun, “We were taken into custody due to a verbal altercation; it didn’t involve any physical violence. Mandi merely scratched my neck, causing a minor wound that bled slightly. It was just a tiny scratch, but what makes this situation particularly unfortunate is that I ended up calling the police myself!

After that, Anna and Mandi were fastened with handcuffs and transported in a police vehicle. According to her account, she noticed officers looking up her name on Google from the front seat of the van.

When they recognized the gravity of the situation, they assured the officers there was no cause for worry, stating that they were simply siblings.

Instead, consider this version: Afterward, they were escorted to the police station where they remained in holding cells for 14 hours. During that time, they were questioned by officers and eventually set free.

Last year, Anna asserted that she was confronted by a gang who brandished unlawful firearms against her over the Bank Holiday weekend.

In response to the incident, she issued a declaration, asserting that she had to take action out of necessity to protect herself following an attack by a young person who had allegedly been using drugs, after this individual attacked her cousin Asal. However, her relatives strongly refuted this account.

In a video posted on social media, a well-known television figure could be observed pulling a young woman by her hair over the pavement. After an intense argument, Mandi then delivered a kick to her head.

A spokesperson for Anna informed TopMob that Anna, Mandi Vakili, and others from their group experienced an unexpected physical and verbal assault in Hyde Park on Monday. This altercation involved Mandi and her cousin being struck and punched, and the assailants attempting to steal their possessions.

The situation, which is quite grave, has been handed over to the authorities (i.e., the police) since there were threats involving unlawful firearms during the assault.

Later on social media, the teenager’s family explained that the confrontation began when Asal asked the spectators to be quiet following their recognition of the celebrity from the ITV2 dating program.

In the year 2019, Anna made an appearance on season five of Love Island. She became well-known for having a heated argument with Jordan Hames when he requested that she become his girlfriend, yet, just two days afterward, he was seen flirting with India Reynolds.

Initially starting her professional journey as an influencer following the conclusion of the show, she opted to resume her position as a pharmacist during the COVID-19 pandemic instead.

Zara Holland – flouting lockdown

In January 2021, Zara Holland faced the penalty of a £4,500 fine or a nine-month imprisonment due to violating strict COVID-19 regulations in Barbados.

Previously crowned Miss England, along with her partner Elliott Love, was detained at the airport upon their attempt to leave the country following a positive Covid test result for Elliott.

The pair received red bracelets as instruction and were asked to stay in their £300-per-night Sugar Bay accommodation until transportation took them to a quarantine facility located on the northern part of the island.

Instead, they opted for a British Airways return flight to the United Kingdom, filled with fellow British vacationers, discarded their wristbands, and hailed a taxi to the airport.

Afterward, Zara made a court appearance in Barbados, as her boyfriend remained in the island’s quarantine facility. Meanwhile, he admitted to departing from the Sugar Bay hotel on December 29, despite the fact that Zara was still under quarantine at that time.

In simpler terms, the celebrity, who seemed rattled, attributed her actions to a “stupid mistake” during her court appearance. She let out a breath of relief as she was only fined £4,417 instead of facing more severe penalties.

Zara’s fine was paid immediately by her lawyer and she promptly returned to the UK.

Two days following Zara’s court appearance, Elliott found himself in the same courtroom, labeled as ‘reckless,’ yet managed to walk away with only a monetary penalty instead of a more severe punishment.

He was required to pay only £3,000, which was £1,400 less than his well-known partner, even though he was willing to travel on an overcrowded plane while carrying the virus.

The reduction in his fine stemmed from the fact that his attorney effectively conveyed that he is an ordinary individual, earning around £450 per week while managing a modest demolition business, and not being recognized as a public figure or celebrity.

2016 saw the appearance of beauty pageant winner Zara on the second season of Love Island. Notably, she lost her Miss Great Britain crown following an incident where intimate moments with Alex Bowen were captured on-camera.

Zara – who married Elliott in Greece in 2023 – now runs a clothing company called Mimi Boutique.

Kyle Ashman – machete attack 

Kyle was initially scheduled to join Love Island when it starts next Monday, however, ITV revealed this week that the 23-year-old from Stafford opted out of entering the villa and decided to step down from the show due to personal matters.

News arrived concurrently with The Sun publishing stories about Kyle allegedly participating in a machete incident back in February, where masked gangs unexpectedly invaded a wake and viciously attacked a father using a sharp blade.

Kyle was among two individuals apprehended by the police, yet he was freed without any additional charges and has since affirmed no role in the event. However, he has opted to depart from the ITV program despite his lack of involvement.

Kyle assured TopMob: “I collaborated completely with the police investigation, and I made it absolutely clear that I had nothing to do with this occurrence.

‘I am not a violent person and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.’   

ITV stated that for personal matters, Kyle won’t be joining the Love Island Villa as initially planned.

On Tuesday, the cast for Love Island was revealed, which means Kyle’s exit will create turmoil as the series kicks off with its premiere episode on Monday.

It turns out that the Sun reported they had informed superiors about Kyle being interrogated regarding the assault, but ITV stated they had no knowledge of the event and he didn’t show up as a concern during the contestant screenings.

On February 28th, the 38-year-old victim came extremely close to losing his arm following a severe injury that required immediate hospitalization. He was forced to keep the affected limb for approximately two weeks during this period of intensive care.

A tragic incident occurred at The White Eagle Club in Stafford where it’s said another attendee was struck with a shattered glass, someone else hit by a metal rod, and two individuals were accidentally run over by a vehicle during a 15-minute span of violence.

Sources said the victim was attacked by three balaclava-clad thugs over an alleged £3,000 debt. 

He sustained an injury from a sharp object that caused a serious cut and damaged his tendons, leaving him currently unable to operate a vehicle.

Last month, police concluded their investigation and decided not to take any further action against Kyle and a different person.

According to a source who spoke with the publication, ITV wasn’t aware of Kyle’s past incidents because no charges had been filed against him. As a result, these events were not included in the thorough background checks conducted for Love Island.

They’ve decided it’s appropriate for him to go back to the UK so he can present his perspective publicly. Consequently, they chose not to let him enter the villa.

On Monday, Staffordshire Police announced that a 22-year-old man residing in Stafford was apprehended for suspected offenses of inflicting injuries and disturbing the peace. Another 22-year-old man from Stafford was also arrested on charges of causing disturbances.

‘Both were questioned in custody and bailed with conditions while our enquiries continue.’

Kyle, being a water operative, maintains a minimal online presence, with only one photograph on Instagram associated with his account.

Before announcing his leaving, Kyle mentioned that he was seeking someone who is lively, self-assured, and authentic.

Love Island returns on Monday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX

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2025-06-05 03:23