Essex stars Sam and Billie attacked by girl gang
The Only Way Is Essex sisters Sam and Billie Faiers have thanked fans for their support after allegedly being beaten in an attack by girls. Reality TV star Sam was admitted to hospital and underwent a brain scan before doctors gave her the all-clear and told her to rest. Her sister Billie allegedly had her £1,500 Mulberry handbag stolen, containing cash, her house keys, her mobile phone, and photos, in a central London nightclub. Sam tweeted on Monday: "Just want to say a big thank you to everyone. I love u all lots. Am resting up all day. Thank you for your kind messages xx." Billie wrote: "Thank you to everyone for your kind and supportive tweets xxx." A spokesman said Billie's designer handbag was stolen in the Jet Black club in central London. She was also allegedly attacked outside the club. On the way home in a taxi, her sister Sam allegedly received a call on her mobile phone saying she would get Billie's phone back if she went to a specified location. When she went to the spot, she was allegedly attacked by 10 girls. Both stars of the ITV2 reality show were taken to Whipps Cross Hospital in east London, where they were kept in overnight. Billie's spokesman Luke Mills said of the incidents, which occurred late on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning: "It was a massively unprovoked attack, which was clearly premeditated. We are assisting police with their inquiries." A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police received an allegation of theft and assault at approximately 4.30pm on October 23 relating to events that took place at some point during the night of October 22 into 23. Officers will now take steps to establish the full circumstances."
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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.