With the possibility of two years behind bars if found guilty of plugging unauthorised investments on social media, The Only Way Is Essex star Lauren Goodger is reportedly “fearful” over who would care for three-year-old Larose, should the worst happen.
It was reported last week that Lauren - who first rose to fame on the hit ITVbe show in 2010 and later returned this year - has been charged over plugging unauthorised investments. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also charged another eight influencers in relation to an unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme promoted on social media.
Now, with the prospect of jail time if found guilty, the 37 year old is reportedly "frightened" for her daughter's future and "doesn't know who to trust."
Speaking exclusively to OK!, a source said: "It was very bad decision making and she’s had some really awful luck. It's a very frightening time for her, and comes after a horrendous couple of years."
"Now, Lauren doesn’t know to trust, and she’s sometimes trusted the wrong people but she’s always put Larose first and done her best by her.
"Her daughter is her main worry and her main focus in all this, she’s very frightened that she could actually go to jail. She doesn’t want Larose to go through that and be brought up by someone else. It’s her worst nightmare."
It was announced that the FCA alleged that influencers Emmanuel Nwanze and Holly Thompson used an Instagram account, @holly_fx trends to give advice on buying and selling contracts for difference (CFDs) when they were not authorised to do so. It said CFDs were high-risk investments, with 80% of customers who invest in them losing money.
The watchdog also alleges that Emmannuel paid Lauren and TOWIE co-star Yazmin Oukhellou, Love Island's Biggs Chris, Jamie Clayton, Rebecca Gormley, and Eva Zapico and Geordie Shore's Scott Timlin to promote the account to their 4.5 million Instagram followers.
Each individual now reportedly faces one count of issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions and face up to two years in prison, if convicted.
Before this scandal, it was also no secret that Lauren has had an unimaginably tough couple of years. The TV star gave birth to her second daughter, Lorena, in July 2022 but, despite having a 'textbook' pregnancy and labour, Lorena tragically passed away shortly after being born. This then led to Lauren having serious struggles with her mental health, at one point admitting, ‘I don’t want to be here’.
Then, just as she admitted to "finally coming out the other side", Lauren - alongside the other stars - prepares to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 13. But one thing's certain, she wants to ensure she'll never makes the same mistake again.
"Lauren can be a naïve girl at times - and that’s not an excuse and it’s not defence in court - but she likes to believe the best and think the best of people," the source claimed.
"Lauren hasn’t always been one to check all the finer details. She’s a single mum, co-parenting, and she wants to provide for Larose and make money to take care of her. But she’s learned the hard way that you need to always look at the small print and make sure you know what you’re getting into."
"She’s trying to think positively and she’s got lawyers helping her, but that racks up the bills. It’s costing her financially as well as emotionally.
The news of Lauren's charges comes after her also being caught up in a "horrible" accident that left her injured and stuck on a busy road. Lauren up to her fans about how "life at the moment is very hard" after detailing the distressing event on her social media.
She wrote on Instagram: "Today I had a horrible accident. Got seven wounds on my body. I fell over in a main road really badly. Luckily the cars stopped and I sat in the road while strangers came to help me (thank you). I'm not a clumsy person at all but my mental health this week after a few things have been brought to me that I can't understand. I've been up most days at 4am running on empty..."
She continued: "I'm going to take a social media break as life at the moment is very hard. I'm a healing and grieving mother and I will never understand some things in life.
"While trying to be a good person to all and the best mum I can and work and run a home and provide and be strong.. We are only human and I feel that right now I have to come off my social media. I hope everyone understands and I'll be back. Posts are scheduled that will be posted but I'm not active."
Lauren's injuries happened just one day after she opened up about how she was "full of anxiety" following a health scare with her daughter. She updated her followers on the harrowing "three days and three nights of hell".
Earlier in the week, Lauren posted about Larose's worrying condition, saying she "had been up all night with a sky-high temperature". Amidst receiving "some horrible news", Lauren confessed to having "cried all day in secret".
However, she later reassured her fans with a positive update. "My little princess is finally better," she announced. "No temperature tonight and went to bed without any medicine as her temperate is normal."
Hopefully, it's only onwards and upwards for Lauren now.
