The father of Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty has broken his silence following the arrest of his older son, James Peaty, on suspicion of making threats towards the athlete. James, 34, was arrested at his home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, on Tuesday and later released on conditional bail.
Mark Peaty said the feud between his sons had escalated, citing a lack of empathy towards James's mental health struggles. He told The Sun: '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. But it's got out of hand, there's been very little empathy towards Jamie's genuine mental health difficulties.'
The arrest came after Adam, 30, was met by police at Manchester Airport upon his return from a stag do in Budapest. His fiancée, Holly Ramsay, had alerted authorities following alleged threats from James. The incident is the latest development in a family rift ahead of Adam and Holly's wedding next month, from which most of Adam's relatives have reportedly been excluded.
Adam's mother, Caroline, and other family members have spoken of being 'snubbed' from Holly's hen party, which was attended by celebrities including Victoria Beckham. Sources have suggested that Caroline's working-class background was at odds with the event's image. Additionally, Adam's sister is said to be the only relative invited to the wedding, which will marry him to Gordon Ramsay's daughter.
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson confirmed: '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.'
