Olympic champion Adam Peaty's family drama has reached a new low after his older brother was arrested on suspicion of harassment, prompting their father to speak out for the first time about the escalating feud.
The Arrest That Shook the Family
James Peaty, 34, was arrested at his home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 following allegations he sent threatening messages to his Olympian brother. The arrest came amid growing tensions within the Peaty family, particularly after Adam and his fiancée Holly Ramsay excluded most relatives from their upcoming wedding.
Staffordshire Police confirmed the development, stating: "We arrested a 34-year-old man from the Uttoxeter area on November 11, 2025, on suspicion of harassment. The man was released on conditional bail while our enquiries continue."
Father's Emotional Plea for Understanding
Mark Peaty, father to both Adam and James, broke his silence in an exclusive interview with The Sun, expressing concern about how the situation has spiralled out of control. "They're brothers, they've always been close, but like any normal family, brothers fight, argue, fall out, make up and start all over again," Mark revealed.
He added a poignant note about his older son's struggles: "But it's got out of hand, there's been very little empathy towards Jamie's genuine mental health difficulties."
Wedding Tensions Reach Breaking Point
The family conflict has been brewing for months, culminating in the dramatic scene where Adam was met by police officers at Manchester Airport upon returning from his stag do in Budapest. The Olympian had allegedly received threats from his brother, prompting Holly Ramsay to alert authorities.
The situation is particularly painful given that James had originally been asked to serve as a groomsman at the December wedding before their relationship deteriorated again in June. Now, only Adam's sister remains invited from his immediate family.
The exclusion extends to Adam's mother Caroline, who was notably absent from Holly's Cotswolds hen do at Soho Farmhouse - an event attended by Victoria Beckham and other high-profile guests. Sources suggest Caroline's working-class background didn't match the "certain 'type'" Holly wanted for her meticulously planned event.
Further controversy emerged when Caroline was reportedly asked to change the dress she had chosen for the wedding ceremony, leading to accusations of body-shaming from her sister Louise.
This isn't the first time the brothers' relationship has faced challenges. Their bond became strained after Adam's 2021 autobiography documented James's struggles with "demons" including drug usage. Though they reconciled earlier this year, with James working on a building project for Adam in June, the relationship soured once more.
As the wedding approaches, the family remains divided, with Mark Peaty's public appeal highlighting the human cost of a feud that has captured public attention and left a celebrated British sporting family fractured.
