The glamorous ex-mistress of Dragons' Den entrepreneur Thomas Skinner has been caught at the centre of a jaw-dropping blackmail scandal, threatening to expose their secret affair unless he pays her a staggering £100,000.
In a plot ripped straight from a thriller, the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly gave the TV star an ultimatum: pay up or have his family life and business reputation destroyed by the revelation of their affair.
The situation escalated so severely that Skinner, known for his cheerful demeanour on the BBC show, felt he had no choice but to involve the Metropolitan Police. Detectives are now investigating what they are treating as a serious case of blackmail.
A Threat to Family and Fortune
The woman reportedly sent a series of menacing messages, making it clear that the price for her silence was a six-figure sum. The threats specifically targeted Skinner's marriage and his hard-earned public image, which he has built since his appearance on the popular investment show.
Skinner, who runs a successful cushion business, is a married man and father. The exposure of an affair would undoubtedly cause massive personal and professional fallout.
The Police Investigation Underway
Officers from the Met are understood to be taking the matter extremely seriously. Blackmail is a serious criminal offence in the UK, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years.
A source close to the situation revealed: "This has been an incredibly stressful and frightening time for Thomas. He felt trapped and knew that going to the police was the only right thing to do. It’s a classic case of blackmail, and the demands were simply outrageous."
The scandal threatens to overshadow Skinner's business success and his reputation as one of the Den's most beloved Dragons.
