Penny Lancaster breaks down as she reveals she was drugged and raped as a teen model

Stephanie Soteriou


Penny Lancaster has become the latest celebrity to reveal that she was sexually abused at the start of her career, with the 46-year-old TV presenter breaking down as she bravely shared her story.

Appearing on Loose Women, Penny cried as she discussed being drugged and raped during a night out as a young model.

She explained: “As a model you’re putting yourself up for rejection day after day, so what you’re looking for is someone to say, ‘I like you, I want you’.

Penny broke down as she opened up. Copyright: [ITV]
Penny broke down as she opened up. Copyright: [ITV]

“In my late teens I had a job with a fashion designer and he invited me to an event. I was interested, I thought I’d get more work.

“I went with him and he said he had to stop at his apartment. He had a little bar in his apartment and said he’d pour me a drink while he went to pick up his bits.”

Penny revealed that she woke up later, face down, with an unnamed man on top of her in a bed.

She continued: “I didn’t tell my mum and dad because I thought they’d say, ‘What on earth were you doing going back to his house?’ But he was I guy I’d worked with, and he promised I’d meet other people. I was just naive, I trusted him.

Penny was targeted as a young model. Copyright: [Rex]
Penny was targeted as a young model. Copyright: [Rex]

“My drink was drugged and I can’t remember much of what happened. I just know he was on top of me enjoying the experience, but I certainly wasn’t. I don’t remember much more.

“I was too afraid to tell anybody.”

Penny’s revelation came as the panel discussed the recent #MeToo campaign, which was launched on social media by survivors of sexual abuse in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Penny was supported by her fellow panellists. Copyright: [ITV]
Penny was supported by her fellow panellists. Copyright: [ITV]

In recent weeks, dozens of women, including high-profile actresses, have come forward to accuse the high-powered film exec of serious sexual assault and rape.

Weinstein, 65, has insisted that all sexual conduct has been consensual, with his spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister saying earlier this month: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein.”

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