Former reality TV contestant Aurélie Preston has just been arrested and taken into custody for her involvement in a robbery with kidnapping. An attack with an air of revenge since it was the ex-partner of this 32-year-old woman who was the target of this commando operation.
It was June 25 in Versailles (Yvelines). At the entrance to the Petite Place residence, a luxury housing complex a stone’s throw from the castle, a man showed up with a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to one of the apartments. In front of the door of the targeted apartment, he rang the bell. The occupant of the premises opened the door to this visitor with the bouquet. But immediately, the latter pushed the victim aside to rush into the apartment where he abandoned the flowers for a balaclava.
At the same time, the man brought in two accomplices. And the victim quickly found himself “handcuffed and his face taped,” according to someone close to the case, then beaten up. The attackers, who had a handgun, probably fake according to what the victim told the police, a taser and a tear gas canister, demanded to be given back the valuables of the unfortunate man who was still tied up, and who ended up losing consciousness.
Wrong victim
When the victim came to, “there was only one attacker left” at the scene, the same source said. She took the opportunity to escape through the window. Inside, the criminals got their hands on two Rolex watches. This man who was beaten and robbed is the brother of Aurélie Preston’s ex-partner. When investigators from the Versailles judicial police’s anti-banditry squad heard the victim, they quickly made the connection with the influencer.
It turns out that the young woman, a dancer and singer, confided in the media about her troubles with her ex-partner, a dentist from Geneva (Switzerland) who allegedly wrecked her mouth, according to comments reported by Voici magazine in April. “He was horrible to me (…) making my life hell.”
At the same time, she was busy promoting her autobiographical book, “Broken »in which she talks about her “dark” childhood, the harassment she claims to have suffered on reality TV shows, from “Les Marseillais” where she appeared for the first time in 2015, to “La Villa des cœurs brisés” and “Les Anges de la téléréalité”.
In this conflict with her ex, the young woman is said to have initiated proceedings to obtain 150,000 euros in compensation for her destroyed teeth. Also, revenge appears to be the number one motive for this violent attack, ordered by her but with the wrong person being the victim.
The young woman arrested this Monday in Montpellier
After a month of investigation during which the BRB gathered sufficient evidence on the origin and scenario of the attack, the Versailles public prosecutor’s office opened a judicial investigation on Friday for “intentional violence with a weapon and in a group, kidnapping, theft by an organized gang, criminal association”, indicates the Versailles prosecutor, Maryvonne Caillibotte.
Aurélie Preston, based in Montpellier (Hérault), was arrested this Monday morning. Like her two alleged accomplices, 31 and 32 years old. In theory, their custody could be extended until Thursday. Before a possible indictment by the investigating judge.
Right of reply
By Mrs. Aurélie Preston.
On August 6, 2024, you published an article in which you mentioned my placement in police custody and the fact that I had ordered a kidnapping at the home of a member of my ex-boyfriend’s family.
First, I strongly deny the charges against me. I have never ordered or willingly participated in any criminal activity.
I deplore the fact that these accusations were broadcast while the proceedings against me are covered by the secrecy of the investigation and the instruction and I was unable to respond to them.
This is why I am requesting a right of reply, having never been contacted directly or through my lawyer to obtain my statements.
I would like to point out that this secrecy, which is one of the pillars of criminal procedure, is intended in particular to preserve the honour and reputation of those seeking justice and to prevent hasty and false conclusions from being drawn.
I also want to clarify that the videos in which I mention personal problems with my ex-partner and which are discussed at the end of the article should in no way be interpreted as being likely to constitute a motive for criminal revenge. My only intention has always been to share my experiences to highlight situations of personal suffering, and never to incite violence.