facebookRobert Madejski aka Lord Bertie Underwood is a serial fraudster[/caption]
Channel 4He made Megan Clarke fall in love with him and then left her with £30,000 in debt[/caption]
Robert Madejski, also known by the alias Lord Bertie Underwood, is a serial fraudster, who deceived multiple victims by creating false identities and stories.
He posed as a wealthy aristocrat, Lord Bertie Underwood, to lure Megan Clarke into a romance.
Over time, he scammed her by secretly taking out credit in her name, leaving her £30,000 in debt.
Meeting Megan Clarke
In 2017 he met Megan Clarke when she was working as a bar manager on the Isle of Wight.
Robert walked into the bar on a quiet summer evening and Megan was immediately drawn to him.
She described him as “tall, dark, handsome, well-dressed”.
He introduced himself as Bertie Underwood, claiming to be a horologist who had recently moved to the island from the mainland.
After a few days, he sent her a large bouquet of flowers and asked her out on a date.
First date
Channel 4He showered Megan in gifts and lies[/caption]
Their first date was an extravagant dinner at a fancy restaurant, where he charmed her with champagne and a luxurious three-course meal.
He also claimed to be a lord, sharing stories of his aristocratic background and wealth.
Megan recalled: “He also told me he was a lord, it was something he was open about.
“He said his great great grandad had invented the Underwood typewriter and that’s where his name and money had come from.”
Their relationship progressed rapidly.
He showered Megan with expensive gifts, including a car and a puppy, and within a few months, Megan moved into his three-story home, which he claimed to have bought at auction.
Six months into their relationship, Bertie proposed with a five-carat Cartier diamond ring on Christmas, and they began planning their wedding.
However, behind the charm, he was secretly taking out loans and credit cards in her name.
This person who was my world was never a real person. None of it was real.
Megan Clarke
Getting caught
Robert was caught when Megan began noticing suspicious activities in their relationship.
A year into their romance, just two months before their wedding, she found several red flags, including a large amount of mail addressed to unknown names at their home.
She started to search through his office and discovered multiple bank cards under different names.
When she confronted him, his defensive reaction raised more doubts.
She said: “I asked Bertie and his attitude changed instantly.
“He shut it down quite quickly and got very defensive and irate.
“It’s definitely when I started questioning everything.”
Megan began researching the names she found and discovered that Bertie Underwood was one of many aliases he had used in his long history of fraud.
After realising the truth, Megan reported him to the police.
Cheating on Megan
Channel 4Megan had to repay the debt herself since he was never convicted for the crimes against her[/caption]
After Megan discovered his true identity as a serial fraudster, she also learned that he had been cheating throughout their relationship.
Her mother posted a warning on Facebook about his scams, which quickly went viral.
She then was contacted by several men who revealed they had been involved with him.
Megan said: “I had multiple men contact me to tell me they had been sleeping with him.
“Not only was he cheating on me, he was doing it in my bed, with men.
“This person who was my world was never a real person.
“None of it was real.
“He must have never had any intention of marrying me.”
Although he was not convicted for the crimes he committed against her, Robert was arrested and convicted on unrelated fraud charges involving another victim.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, but in 2022, he managed to escape and is still on the run.
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on Chelsea player ratings: Nicolas Jackson shows he has something about him vs Liverpool but Jadon Sancho lacks any spark
LIVERPOOL held on to beat Chelsea 2-1 in a thriller as they moved to the top of the Premier League table.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring against his former club from the penalty spot after Levi Colwill tripped Curtis Jones in the box.
AFPRobert Sanchez had a shaky day between the sticks[/caption]
EPAJadon Sancho was hooked off at half-time[/caption]
EPANicolas Jackson scored his fifth goal of the season[/caption]
Chelsea went into the break trailing and it was nearly worse, only for VAR to overturn a second Liverpool penalty after Robert Sanchez’s lunge on Jones.
The Blues came out from the break flying and Nicolas Jackson equalised.
But they failed to hold on with star of the show Jones netting the winner just minutes later.
Here is how SunSport rated the Chelsea players at Anfield.
ROBERT SANCHEZ – 5
Survived a shocker of a challenge on Jones to not give away a pen and never convincing.
REECE JAMES – 6
Got through 53 minutes in first start since last December and will surely shake off the rust.
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on Liverpool player ratings: Curtis Jones outstanding all over pitch vs Chelsea but Dominik Szoboszlai flatters to deceive
LIVERPOOL picked up a big 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield to remain top of the Premier League.
Liverpool picked up a big win over Chelsea at AnfieldEPAMohamed Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool from the penalty spotRexCurtis Jones stood out for Liverpool against ChelseaReuters
That was a major statement for the Merseysiders’ manager Arne Slot, whose team now stands a point ahead of Manchester City and four away from third-placed Arsenal at the top.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring a minute before the half-hourmark from the penalty spot.
But Chelsea hit back just three minutes into the second half with Nicolas Jackson.
However, Liverpool picked up the three points thanks to Curtis Jones’ winner just three minutes later.
But how did each Liverpool star far? Check out Ken Lawrence’s player ratings below for more:
CAOIMHIN KELLEHER – 5
For the Kop – and no doubt secretly for boss Arne Slot – still surely lacking a top “keeper’s presence.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD – 5
Didn’t look entirely comfortable throughout especially in the face of Malso Gusto’s first-half raids.
IBRAHIMA KONATE – 5
Caught napping by Nicolas Jackson’s run three minutes into the second half for Chelsea’s equaliser
VIRGIL VAN DIJK – 7
He has his assassins back home in the Netherlands but again showed imperious defensive abilities
ANDY ROBERTSON – 6
The Scotland captain is not the greatest defender but goodness me – what a brilliant last-second block.
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on Dunelm slashes price of cosy autumn home decorations to just £1 in huge 75% off clearance
BARGAIN buyers have been legging it to their local Dunelm branch to get their hands on these latest autumn home essentials – and you won’t believe the price.
With a huge clearance sale on offer, savvy shoppers could be in store for a treat before Christmas or could nab the items to gift to their friends.
GettyMilton Keynes locals could head to their nearest branch to discover remaining clearance stock on shelves[/caption]
Online shoppers have been offered an incredible deal with five separate items now available to be delivered straight to their door.
Dunelm shoppers heading to the site should be as quick as they can before the items get snapped up by others.
Boasting “hints of vanilla” and “golden spices”, the “cinnamon-dusted muscovado sugar” scent offers to burn up to 30 hours.
Available for home delivery and in your nearest store depending on stock levels, the candle which crackles as it burns has been reduced to a remarkable £1.50.
DunelmThe cosy autumnal crackle candle has been reduced 50% from its original price[/caption]
DunelmThe discounted wax melts come in packs of six and have been festively shaped[/caption]
DunelmUnscented cinnamon sticks could be perfect for crafting and have been made available at half price[/caption]
For just 25 pence more, avid Autumnal fans could nab a set of six Wax Melts too.
Shaped like leaves, the “Autumn Walks” offer an experience “reminiscent of walking through the woodlands”.
Others hoping to get hold of novelty shaped items could choose to purchase the on-the-go Pumpkin Air Freshener.
Reduced from £2 to £1 the item offers drivers the chance to catch a whiff of Autumn by infusing their car with the “delightful scent of pumpkin”.
Nature lovers and fans of decorative flair in their home could add Cinnamon Sticks to their basket.
Priced at just £2, the beautiful bowl filler has been left unscented so could be ideal for crafts.
Anyone considering heading to their local Dunelm branch may want to phone up ahead to avoid disappointment due to stock levels.
Social media users have taken to posting the incredible clearance sale online to ensure others do not miss out.
One person commented: “I’m well overdue a visit”.
Whilst someone else said: “50% off I think a visit is needed.”
Those hoping to get hold of the best offer on hand should consider shopping in-store due to potential delivery fees when ordering online to their door.
DunelmThe Halloween season has even offered drivers the chance to enjoy the scent of Autumn[/caption]
DunelmThe stunning pumpkin candle has been made available in two different colour ways for those looking to add flair to their home this Autumn[/caption]
How to compare prices to get the best deal
JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn't mean it's always a good deal.
There are plenty of comparison websites out there that’ll check prices for you – so don’t be left paying more than you have to.
Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers.
Here are some that we recommend:
Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.
Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock.
Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one.
CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of.
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1: Arne Slot triumphs in first big test as Reds manager to lay down gauntlet in title race
IF Thomas Tuchel tuned in to witness this heavyweight Premier League battle, there would have been one man who made him sit up and take notice.
And while there were six Englishmen in the starting line-up of his former club Chelsea, it was Liverpool’s match-winner Curtis Jones who demanded his attention.
PACurtis Jones celebrating his winner in a match full of VAR drama[/caption]
PAJones beat the offside trap to restore Liverpool’s lead on 51 minutes[/caption]
https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1848026694113710506
At 23, and into his fifth season as a regular Anfield first-teamer, it is surprising that Scouser Jones is yet to win a full England cap.
Many more performances like this and Jones will not be ignored by new Three Lions boss Tuchel.
Jones did not just net the winner early in the second half to send Liverpool back to the top of the table, but he won the penalty for Mo Salah’s opener, was originally awarded a second spot-kick, and produced an outstanding all-round display.
It was Liverpool’s seventh straight win in all competitions and their 10th in 11 outings under Arne Slot, as they re-asserted their one-point lead over champions Manchester City at the start of a run of demanding fixtures.
For Chelsea, it was the end of a seven-match unbeaten run but a performance with plenty of positives for Enzo Maresca, who is bringing sanity to the Stamford Bridge madhouse.
Neither Slot nor Maresca seem inclined to spit poison as Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez often did during the golden age of the rivalry between these clubs.
Both new managers had enjoyed fine starts but both had been helped by relatively gentle fixture lists.
Maresca welcomed back skipper Reece James after an injury lay-off of almost a year, while Romeo Lavia was brought in for a rare start alongside Moises Caicedo – both midfielders having snubbed Liverpool for the Blues last year.
AFPNicolas Jackson slotted Chelsea level, after an offside ruling was overturned[/caption]
Next Jadon Sancho went down after a tangle with Trent Alexander-Arnold but Brooks turned down his penalty appeals. Chelsea were playing some neat stuff early on.
Noni Madueke, who was giving kittens to Andy Robertson, teed up for Cole Palmer, whose shot was blocked by Jones. But then the Liverpool penalty shouts began to rain down.
Salah went down under pressure from Colwill but the Egyptian was too obvious in looking for spot-kick.
Slot earned a yellow for dissent but he didn’t have to wait long for a successful spot-kick appeal against Colwill.
This time Colwill tripped Jones and Brooks pointed to the spot, Salah hammering home and sending Robert Sanchez the wrong way after plenty of Chelsea delaying tactics.
It was Salah’s seventh goal of the season and a kick in the wotsits for the club which allowed him to leave early in his career.
Jota, struggling after an early knock, was replaced by Darwin Nunez but soon Liverpool thought they had doubled their lead.
A poor kick from Sanchez put Chelsea under pressure and a slick move from Jones to Salah to Cody Gakpo, netting at the back stick, came to nothing courtesy of an offside flag.
Maresca was hopping mad when Nicolas Jackson angled a shot narrowly wide of the near post when he might have aimed across goal.
XTosin Adebayo escaped with a yellow card for this challenge on Diogo Jota[/caption]
GettyRobert Sanchez couldn’t keep out Mo Salah’s penalty opener[/caption]
In first-half injury-time, Nunez slipped a pass to Jones, who kippered Tosin with his turn and was brought down by an on-rushing Sanchez.
Brooks pointed to the spot again but was sent to his screen by VAR Michael Oliver who spotted that Sanchez touched the ball before the man.
The on-field ref concurred with his more senior colleague in Stockley Park – but Sanchez had got lucky – it was a subjective call and the ‘light touch’ VAR approach appears to be fading, as most refereeing edicts do.
Before the break, Madueke teased Robertson again and laid back for Palmer, who shot over.It was a warning shot for Liverpool but one they didn’t heed because Chelsea were soon level at the start of the second.
Caicedo’s through-ball was met by a perfectly-timed run from Jackson who drilled past Caoimhin Kelleher – although Oliver was needed again to overturn an incorrect offside call.
Slot’s men were straight back at it, though, and regained their lead within 76 seconds.
Salah’s low centre was met with a Jones surge to the back post, where he cheated the offside trap, controlled and poked past Sanchez.
Maresca, who had sent on Pedro Neto for Sancho at half-time, responded with a triple substitution – introducing Enzo Fernandez, Benoit Badiashile and Renato Veiga.
But Liverpool were sensible in managing their slim lead.
Jones departed ten minutes from time to a standing ovation – and Tuchel might even have got off his sofa to applaud him as well.
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on Horror moment seven-storey building COLLAPSES in Kenya as search and rescue hunt for people trapped under rubble
THIS is the terrifying moment a seven-story block of flats in Kenya collapses as locals watch on in horror.
Footage shows the exact moment the Nairobi building is reduced to rubble as plumes of thick dust rise into the sky.
SWNSA mother flees the scene with her child as the tower block in Nairobi, Kenya collapses[/caption]
EPAThe building is immediately reduced to rubble following thick plumes of dust rising[/caption]
Locals scream as they hear a loud bang and flee the scene in panic and a mother rescues her child from the crash.
A search-and-rescue mission is underway following the horror that took place in the Kahawa West neighbourhood in the East African country’s capital on Sunday.
Only one casualty has been confirmed but the Kenya Red Cross said several families are likely to remain trapped inside the building, according to local outlet The Star.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja told X: “So far, the only one casualty has been reported; one middle aged lady.
“She was outside the building, she fell and injure when the building collapsed.
“She currently is receiving treatment and she is stable.”
However, it’s not yet known exactly how many others were inside the tower block at the time of collapse.
Dicken Muchena, 31, who witnessed the collapse, said: “The building had already been earmarked as a threat to people early today.
“There were signs of collapse so people started vacating.
“I went out to find out more on the ground and that is when the house came down.
“I was shell-shocked to see people who were near the building buried.
“There was horror at the scene and confusion.”
Governor Sakaja told X: “Nairobi City County and Multi Agency rescue teams continue search and rescue operations at the site of the collapsed building in Kahawa West.
“All required equipment has been assembled and mobilised. Nairobi County Deputy Governor, H.E Njoroge Muchiri is on site alongside the teams.”
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said: “We are not sure if there were people still therein, but I know there was an evacuation that happened. They knew it was weak.”
The Kenya Red Cross posted an update to X: “Two people have been rescued and taken to Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital.”
SWNSMoments before the building collapsed and left behind dusty rubble[/caption]
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on I turned fire truck into campervan with 2 STOREYS… floating table goes anywhere & there’s hidden drawer for everything
A COUPLE who quit their jobs to travel the world have revealed how they transformed a disused fire truck into a luxury 2-storey camper.
Jon and Jess have created the ultimate stylish mobile home inside a 6-wheel drive they bought for £31,000.
YouTube/True Blue TravellersThe existing roof was cut out and reinforced with a metal frame, which became the structure of the pop top[/caption]
YouTube/True Blue TravellersWhilst they still have a couple more weeks to go with the build, they said the renovation has so far cost £14,000[/caption]
YouTube/True Blue TravellersThe most daunting part of all was fitting the protective canvas because of how precise you need to be with measurements[/caption]
YouTube/True Blue TravellersThe couple opted for solid wood for their kitchen worktops because of its attractive finish, light weight and general good usability[/caption]
The young couple built and designed their quirky home from scratch – from the electrics and stove to building a whole new level for their bedroom.
It even comes fit with an induction hob and classy wall tiles.
Whilst they still have a couple more weeks to go with the build, they said the renovation has so far cost £14,000.
“These six wheel drive Pinzgauers are one of the most capable off-road vehicles ever made so we decided to see if we could turn one into the ultimate expedition camper,” Jess said in their video.
“But it’s biggest downfall is you can’t stand up inside,” she added.
To gain more space they built a brand new roof on their diesel-fuelled “big red”, which they agreed was “very nerve wracking”.
The existing roof was cut out and reinforced with a metal frame, which became the structure of the pop top.
After a gruelling process, installing the bed frame and ensuring all the bits were held in place, they finally revealed the impressive new structure.
But the most daunting part of all was fitting the protective canvas because of how precise you need to be with measurements. Ensuring the area was fully water and bug proof was also a big concern, they added.
“We paid extra for the big windows,” Jess said.
“You do get a bit of daylight coming through but the benefit of it being thin is it’s only 2 kilos,” she added.
The couple opted for solid wood for their kitchen worktops because of its attractive finish, light weight and general good usability.
In total this cost £93.50 – not too shabby for a luxury material.
One of the negatives of wooden worktops is they tend to warp.
This is easily prevented by putting a metal bar underneath to hold the shape, Jess said.
The couple chose the same wood to create a lagoon table top that can be propped up for a side table or desk to work on.
If that wasn’t enough the pair even wired the entire truck themselves to make it fit for the ultimate getaway.
Jess encouraged anyone nervous about taking on this electrical challenge to seek help from a professional.
“There are companies out there who will design the whole electrical system for you. You just have to say what you want and they’ll tell you what cables and batteries you need,” she told viewers.
As for the pièce de resistance – the truck’s highly stylish kitchen – the couple settled for a household induction cooker that is both mobile and can sit flush on the worktop.
They even added a tiled splashback – a simple stick on job using lightweight imitation tiles that cost just £28.
As for one of the most important assets of all – the bed – they used a track saw to cut out the perfect sized mattress, which they slotted onto slide-out panels.
“This is just in case of bad weather,” the couple pointed out. For the most part, they intend on sleeping in their super-deluxe pop-up roof.
It was expensive but definitely “worth the money” they agreed.
“I worry what’s going to happen to all my tools when I die,” Jon joked.
“He has so much of everything, Jess said.
“which is why it’s so hard to give you a proper cost check,” she added.
The whole process has been documented on their social platforms, where they’ve answered hundreds of questions from inquisitive onlookers.
YouTube/True Blue TravellersThey used a track saw to cut out the perfect sized mattress[/caption]
YouTube/True Blue TravellersThe couple picked an old fire truck to turn into their campervan[/caption]
When one commenter asked how off-grid they planned to be, they replied:
“We never stay at camp sites so will be fully sorted, hopefully”.
The mother from the UK, bought a 2004 Lunar Lexon caravan, which was in need of modernising, and transformed it from drab to fab all whilst on a budget.
Posting on social media, the savvy DIY fan gave her followers a close-up look at the van before its epic overhaul.
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on Glam Ruth Langsford lets her hair down with Lizzie Cundy and Rylan Clark on karaoke night out after Eamonn Holmes split
RUTH Langsford seems to be singing the praises of the single life as she joins TV star Rylan Clark for some Saturday night karaoke.
Instagram @lizziecundyRuth Langsford looked glamorous and stylish in her black co-ord outfit[/caption]
The TV star enjoyed a karaoke night on the town with her good friends Rylan and Lizzie CundyInstagram @lizziecundy
The 64-year-old enjoyed a night on the town with Rylan, 35, to celebrate the birthday of presenter and socialite Lizzie Cundy.
Wearing an all-black co ord outfit with a sparkly top, tailed trousers and a stylish fitted blazer and high-heeled silver sandals, all, from her clothing range at QVC.
Ruth captioned the photo: “Off to a birthday party.” Before including footage of her laughing and performing karaoke with Rylan.
Indeed the mother-of-one certainly seems to be enjoying herself and appears to be fully embracing single life in her sixties.
Earlier this week luxury denim wear designer, Donna Ida, asserted that Ruth is having a style renaissance, since separating from broadcaster Eamonn Holmes.
The designer styled Ruth when she walked into her Chelsea Boutique.
She told the Express: ““When I met her she was lovely. She has shopped with us over the years. I love her hair being a bit longer. I think she looks amazing.”
When asked if Ruth was having a fashion refresh, Donna replied: “Yeah. She is fantastic fun. She is such a nice person.”
Taking to social media, she informed fans that she had taken their advice and wanted to experiment with adding a few extra inches to her hair extensions.
She shared a video of the process, writing in the caption: “Extensions time again! @leobancroft salon.
Decided to keep them a bit longer this time (lots of you told me to last time! ) Fitted by the lovely Lauren (you can also book Kristen) cut and styled by Leo.”
Ruth and Eamonn split after 14 years together back in May and are in the process of filing for divorce.
Before the shock split announcement, Ruth and Eamonn seemed like one of the strongest couples on UK TV – even with their signature bickering style.
Here’s how their romance played out…
1997 – The couple first meet after being introduced by mutual friends, two years after Eamonn splits from his first wife, Gabrielle, with whom he has three children.
1997-2002 – To be respectful to Gabrielle, the couple kept their relationship out of the limelight. Ruth told Daily Mail: “I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had. It made me love him more, not less.”
2002 – Ruth and Eamonn welcome their son, Jack, to the family.
2005 – Eamonn finalises his divorce with Gabrielle.
2006 – The pair begin to host Friday episodes of This Morning together.
2010 – Eamonn proposes to Ruth while at the Cheltenham Races, after asking Ruth’s mother for her hand.
June 2010 – Eamonn and Ruth marry at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire.
2016 – Eamonn undergoes a double hip replacement in the first of many health battles.
June 2019 – On This Morning, Ruth and Eamonn say the secret to their happy marriage. Eamonn credits “compromise, consideration and lots of conjugal,” while Ruth said it was “laughter and an equal marriage”.
November 2020 – Ruth and Eamonn are replaced on their regular Friday slot by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary in a ‘show shake-up’.
December 2021 – After a year of being moved to the bank holiday presenting slot, both Eamonn and Ruth left This Morning.
January 2022 – Eamonn debuted on GB News, while Ruth stayed with ITV in her long-standing role on Loose Women.
September 2022 – Eamonn undergoes spinal surgery after years of back issues including a trapped sciatic nerve.
November 2022 – Eamonn falls down the stairs of his Surrey home with Ruth and breaks his shoulder, requiring a new operation.
September 2023 – Eamonn has a spine and neck stretching procedure as part of his year-long recovery.
May 2024 – Ruth and Eamonn announce they have split after 14 years of marriage and a 27-year relationship.
September 2024 – Eamonn was spotted on a luxury holiday in Barcelona with his new girlfriend Katie Alexander. Ruth calls in a ‘fierce’ divorce lawyer.
Since splitting from Eamonn, Ruth’s life has been a whirl of social occasionsInstagram @lizziecundyThe karaoke was to celebrate the birthday of presenter Lizzie Cundy, picturedInstagram @lizziecundy
2 days agoSouth TvComments Off on Tragic Liam Payne was ‘plied with drugs supplied by hotel staff’ hours after visa tests showed he was ‘completely clean’
LIAM Payne was plied with drugs supplied by a hotel worker just 24 hours after being told he was clean, cops believe.
Argentine investigators suspect the drugs found in the tragic One Direction star’s Buenos Aires hotel room were sourced in a poverty-stricken neighbourhood 15 miles away.
This is understood to be the final photo of LiamCops believe two hotel workers could have supplied the star with drugsReutersFans have left a shrine of tributes to Liam Payne outside the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires[/caption]
APA drone view showing the pool area at the hotel where Liam tragically died[/caption]
An address in the city of Lomas de Zamora is said to match up with a man suspected of being involved in supplying the substance, sources say.
Police are investigating two hotel staff in connection with the deals including a cleaner at the CasaSur boutique hotel.
It is believed they hid the drugs in a Dove Soap box which can be seen in pictures inside Liam’s room.
A pal of Liam’s last night told The Sun the star had been given the all-clear on a drugs test last Tuesday – the day before he plunged 45ft to his death from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
The pop star had “tried really hard to get clean”, the pal claimed before being “preyed upon” by the hotel workers.
They said dad-of-one Liam had entered Argentina on September 30 with the aim of renewing his American visa.
They claim that when Liam spoke to US embassy officials, they queried his previous stints in rehab and said he needed to take a drug test to prove he was clean to have his renewal approved.
They added: “The embassy said Liam needed to do a strict investigation including X-rays and a blood test to search for traces of drugs.
“He collected his results on Tuesday and they showed he was clean.
“On the weekend at his friend’s ranch, he was completely sober.
snapchatLiam, pictured above with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy[/caption]
“When he checked in at the hotel, at some point someone there started giving him drugs.”
A source alleged hotel staff had started selling Liam drugs at some point in the time he checked in at 11pm last Sunday.
They said they did not know what drugs Liam was buying or how much he had spent on them.
However reports from US media have suggested he was under the influence of Cristal, a hallucinogenic substance which causes psychotic episodes.
Police suspect Liam suffered an episode while high and drunk.
It has been reported that multiple staff members were set to be fired over allegedly supplying drugs to Liam.
The insider said: “Liam had tried really hard to get clean, then he’s been preyed upon.
“These people just care about money – they don’t care about putting people’s lives in danger.
“It’s an evil trade. This is all just tragic.”
Guests saw him behaving erratically in the hotel lobby moments before he died at 5.07pm, with reports of him smashing up his laptop.
He spent some of his final hours at the hotel with two local blonde women, who The Sun on Sunday yesterday revealed are Aldana Serrano, 27, and Lucila Goitea, 31.
He was also said to have been seen arguing with a woman over payment.
During his time in Argentina, Liam watched his old 1D bandmate Niall Horan perform and spent time playing polo at a ranch with pals and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25.
Among Liam’s group was his Argentinian friend Roger Nores, who was seen with him at the hotel and who accused staff of supplying drugs to the singer.
ReutersA distraught Geoff Payne, Liam Payne’s dad, waves to fans outside the hotel in Argentina[/caption]
GettyGeoff looks down at the masses of flowers, cards and candles left out to honour his son Liam[/caption]
A source close to Roger said he last saw Liam for ten minutes on Wednesday, and that he left the hotel at 3.30pm.
The insider said: “Roger told him, ‘I’ve got to run’ and Liam said, ‘Go do your own thing’. That was the last thing they said to each other.”
“Roger is upset – at one point on Wednesday he was phoned by a hotel manager who said they had found Liam asleep on the floor of the elevator.
“They moved him to the sofa in the hotel lobby but the manager said he couldn’t stay there, and that he needed to go to his room.
“In the emergency call, they said they were worried Liam’s life was in danger because he was in a room with a balcony.
“Why didn’t they just let him stay sleeping in the lobby if they were worried about this?”
A pal of Roger told us: “Liam’s behaviour hadn’t been off at all – he was happy.
It is understood Roger has spoken to police and the District Attorney, and that he is in touch with Liam’s dad Geoff.
Meanwhile, Liam’s old performing arts teacher Jodie Richards revealed she was in touch with him just hours before he died.
Jodie, who taught Liam at Pink Productions in his home town of Wolverhampton, West Mids, said: “I spoke to him about five hours before it happened so from my point of view I am really shocked.
“There was no cause of concern – he was having a chilled-out morning so I’m not sure what happened.
“It was about 4am our time [when Liam messaged] saying ‘are you still up?’.
“I messaged him when I was up and taking the kids to school to say ‘I’m up now’.
“I said, ‘What are you doing?’ and he said, ‘I’m just chilling’ and he said [he was in] Argentina.
“I said, ‘That sounds good’ and that was the last time I spoke to him.
Hours after he had gone through all of that.”
A smashed up TV and champagne glasses were also picturedClarinClarinWhite powder and burnt aluminium foil were allegedly pictured inside Liam’s hotel room[/caption]
Health struggles
Liam often spoke about the dark side of fame, revealing how the constant media attention and pressure from being in the spotlight took a significant toll on his mental health.
One of the more painful admissions from Liam’s interview was his battle with alcohol, which began during his time with the band.
As One Direction skyrocketed to fame, the group members were often confined to hotel rooms, where mini-bars were their only outlet.
“The best way to secure us was to lock us in our rooms, and what is in the room? A mini-bar,” the ex-1D band member told the podcast.
“So I had a party-for-one that seemed to carry on for many years of my life.”
Liam was brutally honest about his health issues in recent years.
His journey through fame came with its costs as he disclosed that he had suffered from social anxiety and struggled to maintain his mental well-being while under immense pressure.
Despite the joyful moments of his meteoric rise to fame, Liam’s struggles with mental health, addiction, and the weight of his stardom were a constant undercurrent.
He had been working on his sobriety in recent years, candidly discussing his difficult relationship with alcohol.
He admitted that he spent time in a US wellness clinic after he “hit rock bottom”.
He also told how a mystery respiratory illness left him floored in 2021.
Liam admitted turning to alcohol and drugs to hide how he struggled to cope with One Direction’s dizzying levels of fame — which would spark panic attacks and high levels of exhaustion.
Tributes to Liam Payne
SHOCKED fans, former co-workers, loved ones and friends flooded social media with sad tributes to Liam Payne after news of his death emerged.
Harry Styles’ mum Anne was among the first from One Direction’s camp to share her reaction, posting a photo of Liam and writing ‘Just a boy…’ alongside a broken heart emoji.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden shared an image of the pair together with the words: “Such an awful tragedy.
“Sending love to his family and all those who loved him.”
X Factor star Olly Murs told fans he was “devastated” and “lost for words”.
He wrote on social media: “Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his Family and of course his son Bear losing a dad x”.
Liam Gallaghersaid he was “very sad” and told his followers on X: “Life is precious Kids, you only get to do it once, go easy.”
He said: “I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.
“He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble.”
BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball reacted to the “devastating news” on her show and told fans she hugged her own son Woody tight this morning.
JLS band member Marvin Humes reflected on his memories with the singer, sharing: “I first met Liam in 2008 with the JLS boys whilst auditioning for X Factor..he was 14 years old..
“We instantly clicked and looked at him as a little brother..that year it worked out for us but not for him and then 2 years later he went back to audition and One Direction was born..the rest is history..
“Absolutely heartbroken by the tragic news..Liam you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it bro..just can’t believe that things have ended this way..it’s shocking..my thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends brother..RIP.”
Niall Horan’s brother Greg shared an emotional tribute to Liam, praising him as a “top young man”.
He added: “You will be forever missed. Liam, words can’t describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys.
“My heart goes out to your family parents and sisters and your son Bear and your 1D brothers.
“10th October we met and we started out that evening as 5 families into one big one 1D family thank you for all the laughs bro watch down on all your family and mind them lots of love kiddo x x x 1D 4 LIFE x x x”
German DJ Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, has taken to X with a devastated statement.
The producer, who worked with Liam on his 2017 hit Get Low, wrote: “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking…”
American singer,Charlie Puth, who was friends with Liam and also collaborated with him on a song called Bedroom Floor, has posted a series of Instagram stories dedicated to him.
Alongside photos of the two of them together in their younger days, Charlie wrote: “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me.
“He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone…
“I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace. I am so sorry…”
Irish singer duo Jedwardalso took to social media, saying: “RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to friends and family.”
In another tweet, they added: “Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear. And all the One direction Family. RIP Liam Payne.”
American media personality Paris Hilton shared: “So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.”
ITV weather presenter Alex Beresford shared a news video about Liam’s tragic death on Instagram, adding: “Can’t believe this! RIP Liam.”
Meanwhile Love Island star Molly Marsh penned: “I’m so taken aback, rest in peace.”
James Cordon also paid his own tribute, describing the star as a “loving and kind soul”.
The Gavin and Stacey actor wrote on Instagram: “Talking about Liam in the past tense is utterly heart-breaking.
“I will treasure the moments I got to spend with him. My thoughts are with his family today x.”
Payne previously appeared on Cordon’s The Late Late Show in America.
Former Little Mix star Jade Thirwall – who won X Factor with her bandmates one year after One Direction took part – described him as “the first friend I made in this industry”.
She said: “We fell out of touch as the years went by, but back in 2008 he was the first friend I made in this industry.
“Both of us so young, so ambitious, both hoping we’d ‘make it’. I hope you are at peace now”.
Camila Cabello described his death as a “tragedy” and said he “made an impression” on her when she was a young girl.
