Love Island star Georgia Steel is dating fraudster Medi Abalimba, who was previously jailed for four years.
Earlier this week, the 21-year-old was pictured kissing the 26-year-old, who admitted to 12 counts of fraud and dishonesty at Manchester Crown Court in 2014.
According to The Sun Online, Medi used to pose as former Chelsea footballer Gael Kakuta in order to fund a lavish lifestyle.
He would reportedly call venues in advance pretending to be the footballer’s agent, and used stolen credit card details to rack up massive bar tabs.
It’s also believed Medi racked up a £12,000 bill at three luxury hotels in London, £11,000 on limousines, and on one occasion he splurged £1,100 to take four girls from Manchester on a tour over London in a helicopter.
Medi was eventually arrested after he was caught trying to buy clothes worth over £20,000 from Selfridge’s.
When contacted by the The Sun Online, Medi insisted that Georgia knows about his criminal history.
“I told her everything. She wasn’t judgemental. I don’t want her career affected,” he said. “We like each other, we are getting on she’s a good girl. It’s a beauty and the beast story. I’m considered a monster, but she doesn’t judge me.”
“I didn’t watch Love Island when she was in it because I was in prison. I didn’t even know who she was. We met on a night out, a friend introduced us, and got talking and we got on.”
He continued: “I think we have a lot in common in terms of the perception people have of us before they have met us. I think it’s easy to have a perception of someone before you meet them.”
“My crime is a dishonest crime so if I’m honest who is going to believe me? People have their opinions. I’ve apologised to Georgia. I said sorry this has caused such an issue.”
“I think she wanted to understand how it all went wrong for me. She was shocked. Initially she was concerned for me. She was upset. She assumed everyone knew except her.”
Medi has insisted that he’s a changed man, and he now works for a concierge company doing advertising and promotions.
He said: “I want to get on with my life. The last time I was convicted was in 2014. Most people who go to prison are in and out all the time.”
“I’ve turned my back on all that. In prison I wrote to people I’d lied to and apologising. Of course I’ll apologise to Georgia. I’ll apologise to her family, her fans.
“But I think people should just let us get on with what we are doing. I made some bad decisions at a young age. I just want a second chance,” he added.
