Footballer Jamie Vardy’s wife Rebekah opens up about her suicide hell

Rebekah Vardy and Jamie Vardy

by Francesca Battson |
Updated on

Rebekah Vardy has revealed she endured horrific sexual abuse when she was a teenager

Rebekah Vardy has opened up and admitted that she attempted to take her own life twice after struggling to cope with the abuse she received.

The 34 year old revealed that a family friend targeted her for three years when she was a teenager, which led to depression and "devastating decisions".

Check out: From Kerry Katona to Victoria Beckham - Katie Price’s celebrity arguments

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From Kavana to Victoria Beckham: Katie Priceu2019s showbiz feuds - Closer (slider)

Katie Price showbiz feud1 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images & ITV

Katie Price showbiz feud

Katie Price Victoria Beckham2 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Victoria Beckham

This is one of our favourites. Picture the scene: Victoria Beckham (then Queen WAG, not top fashion designer), at Manchester United, surrounded by a group of Gucci-clad wives and girlfriends – singing Who Let The Dogs Out as Katie Price walked through the lounge.Speaking on her Fubar radio show in 2014, Katie explained: "All it is is that years ago she sang the song in the Manchester United lounge and there's where it started from. "And in a nightclub David held my hand behind her back, it was in my book. It was years ago."She has since thrown shade at Posh Spice's son Cruz Beckham.

Katie Price Kerry Katona3 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Kerry Katona

After meeting in the I'm a Celebrity jungle in 2004, Katie and Kerry quickly became besties – and Kezza was even bridesmaid at Kate's wedding to Peter Andre.But they fell out in 2007, when Katie publicly disapproved of Kerry's relationship with Mark Croft, labelling her 'a druggie' and him a 'bully'.But they made up in 2014, and Kerry even asked Katie to be a bridesmaid at her wedding to George Kay.

Katie Price Kelly Brook4 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Kelly Brook

Katie briefly dated Kelly's ex-boyfriend Danny Cipriani, but ended things when she caught him in bed with another woman.But model Kelly was NOT impressed when Katie sold the story in 2013. She tweeted: :@MissKatiePrice Your [sic] doing a kiss&tell on Danny?? Haha that's hilarious. You dated for 5mins and was one of many at the time. Desperate."They've never resolved things, and fell out again in 2014 when Katie branded Kelly a 'heifer'.

Katie Price VS Katie Hopkins5 of 11
CREDIT: Channel 5

Katie Price VS Katie Hopkins

Before coming face-to-face in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2015, motormouth Hopkins angered the Pricey by slamming her youngest daughter's name.Referencing Pricey's husband Kieran's affairs, she tweeted: "BUNNY? Makes sense, given your dad was going at it like a rabbit will all of mum's mates."They did not resolve things in the house, and shortly after winning the show Pricey said: "She's a disgusting human being. She really is."

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Katie Price VS Peaches Geldof

In November 2012, Katie commented negatively on a photo of the late Peaches Geldof's son Astala, then six-months, playing with their dog Parper.Writing in her column for The Sun, Katie said: "An animal is an animal and that means she they can turn on you at any point. All new mums should also remember that dogs can easily get jealous of new babies."But Peaches hit back. She tweeted: "Funny that Katie Price aka 'Jordan' lol thinks that I shouldn't allow my gentle, sweet golden retriever dog near his best friend, my son. Could say the same thing to her about letting some of the multitude of 'boyfriends' she has near her kids [sic]."

Katie Price VS Havana7 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Havana

Poor Katie. She went into the Celebrity Big Brother house to make friends – and it looked like she did. She and 90s pop star Kavana teamed up for his new music video following their exit, but he later made the mistake of talking about her in an interview.Discussing the budding pop star, Kav told The Sun: "We've decided to to a duet. I mean, God bless her, she can't really sing, can she? But I've said to her that I'll get her in the studio and make it sound good."Unsurprisingly, Katie was NOT impressed with his catty comments. She said: "I did a favour for @kavana_official by appearing in his music video as a favour when he asked by NEVER discussed going a duet with his and this is something that will NEVER happen as infact I'm in the studio recording my own tracks solo [sic]."

Katie Price Kimberley Crew8 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Kimberley Crew

When Katie sent a cryptic tweet on Joe Hart and Kimberly Crew's wedding day in July, it was assumed she was suggesting she and Joe had history.Katie teased: "All Harts go out to the married couple is he going to tell her the truth about us? [sic]."Joe and Kimberly have never publicly commented on the rumours, but a source told The Sun at the time: "Kim couldn't care less. She thinks Katie is a clueless bimbo. "She has no concerns about Joe's loyalty and told friends, 'In her dreams! She probably wishes she could get her hands on him!'"

Katie Price Alicia Douvall9 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Alicia Douvall

Katie came up against another former frenemy in the CBB house in 2015: Alicia Douvall. Although the two former glamour girls appeared to make up during their time on the show, Alicia hit out after being the first evicted.She told Star magazine: "[Katie] was looking at my body and making comments. There was a twitch of jealousy. Katie is a very clever girl and it was a strategic move to save Katie H [from nomination]."It was revealed in the house that Katie and Alicia both dated Dwight Yorke, the father of Katie's eldest son Harvey.But Alicia added: "It wasn't only Dwight. There are other exes we've shared. We were direct rivals when we were both modelling. She once tried to beat me up in a night club when she was pregnant!"

Katie Price Jodie Marsh10 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images

Katie Price VS Jodie Marsh

Probably Katie's most infamous feud – she and Jodie Marsh have never hidden their feelings about each other.When Jodie first emerged on the glamour modelling scene Katie accused her of 'copying her'.In 2015, over a decade after their feud originally erupted, Jodie angered Katie again by insisting she's 'the one who's famous for having loads of kids with different dads'.Katie took to Twitter to hit back, writing: "Don't knock mothers like me, there's lots of us. Didn't you go out with my exes names written all over your body, marking them out of ten after you shagged them (classy)? Well, you've shagged nearly all my leftovers and not one of them wanted you (gutted)."

Katie Price Chris Hughes11 of 11
CREDIT: Getty Images & ITV

Katie Price VS Chris Hughes

We will NEVER forget Katie Price and Love Island star Chris Hughes' 2017 drama. It all began after Katie denied sending Chris any flirty messages after he said he was ignoring her.Things took a turn for the worse when Chris posted text messages she had sent him but it wasn't long before she hinted she has over 50 screenshots of private messages he sent her.Just when we thought things couldn't get any more juicier The Sun then verified that Chris HAD sent the mum-of-five private messages (even though he originally denied ever doing so). Pricey then went one step further and flashed one of those secret messages.Eek!

Rebekah and Jamie Vardy
©Instagram / beckyvardy

Speaking to The Sun, Becky said: "I didn’t want to live any more, it was as simple as that. I felt as though I’d done something wrong.

'It changed the course of my life because I made devastating decisions, I never felt worthy of proper happiness."

The England footballer’s wife went through hours of counselling, which eventually helped her to realise that the ordeal was not her fault.

Rebekah wanted to speak out as she feels that now she is in the public eye, and that she is strong enough to talk about her life, she feels her position can help other victims.

Rebekah and Jamie Vardy
©Instagram / beckyvardy

Unfortunately, a family rift over the abuse led to Rebekah’s mother refusing to attend the couple’s wedding earlier in the year.

However, her children Megan, 11 and Taylor, six from previous relationships, joined Jamie and Rebekah’s one-year-old daughter Sofia for the celebration.

Rebekah and Jamie Vardy
©Instagram / beckyvardy

She revealed that her mum never believed her, but Becky can remember all the horrifying incidents she went through.

"I would freeze every single time, terrified. I didn’t know what to do. I would just cry in my room later. I bottled it all up," she emotionally revealed.

"I felt like I couldn’t get away. It happened nearly every week, probably three times a month."

And at just 15-years-old, she tried to take her own life.

Rebekah Vardy
©Instagram / beckyvardy

Sadly, Rebekah revealed that nobody asked why she took an overdose, because they presumed she was just "a troubled child".

After finally opening up to her mum about the abuse, Becky didn’t receive the help she was seeking, as her mum didn’t believe her.

However, she turned to her dad – who wasn’t living with her at the time – and he took her to the police.

Rebekah left home at 16 and soon married ex-partner Mark Godden, which ended after she again tried to commit suicide by harming herself, having been unhappy with her life.

She began another unhappy relationship with a man 20 years older than her, with whom she had daughter Megan.

After their split, Rebekah dated footballer Luke Foster for six years and in that time had son Taylor.

After the birth of her son, Becky suffered post-natal depression and more suicidal thoughts.

Rebekah now wants to work with charities helping abused children, and hopes her story will encourage others to speak out if they are suffering from abuse, like she once did.

We’re glad that Rebekah has overcome this traumatic time in her life, and is now a stronger person and much happier with her new life with Jamie and her three children.

This article originally appeared on Closer on July 11 2016.

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