THE CURSE OF ABI

THE man who took Abi Titmuss' virginity is in an American jail accused of stalking his current girlfriend and threatening to kill her.

John Longford fled Britain 10 years ago after Abi dumped him and claims to still long for her, telling friends: "She's the love of my life."

Former nurse Abi - facing a police probe after she admitted buying cocaine and snorting it with her TV host lover John Leslie - dated Longford, 35, for more than two years. She dumped him when she discovered he was sleeping with her best friend in their home village of Ruskington in Lincolnshire

A pal of Longford's said last night: "He was devastated. He couldn't believe she wouldn't take him back. He begged her to forgive him - and when she wouldn't he went off. He vowed he would never let any woman break his heart again, worked around Europe for years and then went to the United States."

Longford has kept naked pictures of teenage Abi, now 27, who has gained new notoriety after she admitted taking part in lesbian sex sessions while boyfriend Leslie and another man looked on.

Longford's friend said: "They were mostly posed shots - he has a lot of pictures of women naked. That must be his thing. When Abi became famous, a mate suggested John could make money by selling his pictures of her as a teenager. But he said he wanted to protect her. He made it sound as if she was very clean and straight when they were going out."

Longford, a builder, is currently in Los Angeles County Jail charged with stalking girlfriend Suzanne Kelly, 28, after she also dumped him.

They had lived together for two years and had even brought her back to Britain to meet his family. She kicked him out three months ago because of his heavy drinking.

According to police reports, he called her 400 times in 30 days and bombarded her with threats and pleas to take him back. He was arrested on January 17 and could face six years behind bars.

"The final straw came when John called Suzanne and said he had a gun and planned to shoot her and then kill himself," claimed the friend.

"The police warned her not to sleep at home for a while. John was totally out of control."

The friend continued: "He has a lovely family in England. His brother is a doctor in Liverpool and one of his sisters is a brain surgeon.

"But he has nothing now. He hasn't any money to get out on bail and he can't even afford a lawyer." Longford's brother David said last night: "I had no idea where he was. Finding out he's in jail is a shock."

Longford refused to comment when contacted in jail.

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