Lynda Bellingham Was Warned Not To Marry Michael Pattemore

Last week it was sadly reported that the late Lynda Bellingham’s children had accused their step-father, Michael Pattemore, of withholding their inheritance, kicking them out of their family home, and blowing Lynda’s money on luxurious holidays for himself.

Her friend and Loose Women co-star, Nadia Sawalha, also hit out at Michael, saying that Lynda would be “horrified” by his behaviour - which also saw the timeshare salesman claim that he’d had sex with Lynda’s ghost on national television.

Now Denise Sutton, Michael’s ex-girlfriend, has come forward and revealed that she’d warned Lynda not to marry Michael at least ten times, claiming that she flagged her concerns that Michael was only with the TV star for her money.

Speaking to The Mirror, Denise explained: “I must have warned Lynda ten times not to trust Micky.

"He was obsessed with the celebrity lifestyle. He used to go on about Lynda’s celebrity friends, about eating in the best restaurants and drinking in the best bars.

"I said to Lynda one time, ‘You must be able to find someone better.’ She said she had it all in hand. She would repeat that he wouldn’t get her money and that it would go to her sons.”

Michael and Lynda met in 2003 when Michael was working in Spain selling timeshares, recalling their first meeting, Denise added: “One evening in 2005 I ­received a call and he excitedly asked me did I know that Lynda Bellingham was in Moraira ­looking to buy a property.

"When I said yes, he told me 'Well you never guess what, I’ve only been in the bar drinking with her and her mate’. From the very first moment he mentioned Lynda, it was all about the money.

"Some weeks later we saw each other again. He was telling me all about how Lynda had invited him to her home in North London and how he couldn’t believe his luck.

"He talked incessantly about how much money he could make out of her and her famous friends.”

And he also had a worrying attitude towards Lynda’s sons, especially Robbie who Michael fell out with one Easter.

Denise explained: “It was Easter 2005 and Micky went to lunch at Lynda’s. He said he fell asleep in Robbie’s bed and was ­woken by Lynda’s son in the ­middle of the night. They got in a row and Lynda started crying so Micky left.

"Micky went on and on to me about how she thought way too much of her sons and that he would soon change all that once he and Lynda were married.”

When Denise finally met Lynda for herself she admitted that she felt “incredibly sad” about how she was being strung along, and when Lynda phoned her shortly afterwards she gave in and told her everything.

Denise shared: “I blurted out that Micky can’t be trusted. Lynda just said OK and that she’d call me again. I thought I’d sown the seed.

"She wanted to find out what I knew about him. She sympathised with me as we were both single mothers and she told me she’d struggled to provide for the boys.”

Denise last spoke to Lynda before her wedding to Michael, and once again warned her away from him - heartrendingly, Lynda was adamant that she was doing the right thing and even said that she wouldn’t let a man take anything away from her sons.

Denise concluded: “Again I warned her about Micky and she said, 'Don’t ­worry, I’m not as daft as you think. I love him. He is my soulmate.

”'But when it comes to money, I’ve worked all my life for my boys, not for a man to take it away from them’.“

Michael and Lynda tied the knot in 2008 and were together until her tragic death eighteen months ago.

Since Lynda’s passing Michael has been documenting his travel adventures across the globe over on her Twitter page - sharing a variety of selfies from beautiful holiday resorts.

He has not publicly responded to Denise or his step-children’s allegations.