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COPS have pounced on a French reality TV star who allegedly told thugs to kidnap and rob her ex-boyfriend’s brother.
Aurélie Preston, 32, was this week arrested after the brother was beaten up by fake delivery men who stormed his house, tied him to a chair and stole two designer watches, it’s alleged.
Prosecutors allege the violent robbery occurred June 25 in Versailles, when a homeowner opened his door to a “flower delivery” man.
The bogus delivery man is then said to have thrown himself at the brother, backed up by two accomplices.
It’s alleged he was threatened with a handgun before being beaten up.
He somehow freed himself from the rope he was allegedly tied down with before escaping through a window.
Preston, accused of orchestrating the ordeal, was being held police ahead of an initial court hearing.
She is charged with “armed robbery in an organised gang”, “kidnapping”, “intentional violence” and “criminal association”.
Preston starred in several French reality TV shows before shifting her attention to singing.
She boasts more than 650,000 followers on Instagram.
A close friend of Preston and a man suspected of participating in the attack were also detained by cops from Versaille’s anti-banditry brigade, according to local media.
The pair of designer watches taken were reportedly worth £21,500.
Preston has previously spoken out against her ex, who is a dentist based in Geneva, Switzerland.
In a video aired on social media, she accused him of botching a job on her teeth and claimed their lives together were “hell”.
She estimated damages from the fumbled dental job at more than €100,000 (£85,800).
The popular French shows she featured on included Les Marseillais en Thaïlande and La villa des cœurs brisés (The Marseillais in Thailand and The Villa of Broken Hearts).
She also wrote a book called “Brisee” (Broken) in which she details how she overcome personal challenges to find professional success.
An Amazon synopsis describes the book as “full of hope”.
It says: “In this story, she recounts the most difficult periods of her life: from drugs to harassment, from her abusive mother to the shocking loss of her father.
“A message full of hope, despite a journey that could not be more difficult.”
In her latest Instagram post, she appeared to give followers advice on how to boost their finances.
She wrote: “Creating wealth (culture, defending causes, etc.) is not about being special, it’s about being ready to do what others don’t do.”
According to her Instagram, she even has plans to open her own news agency.
But it appears she’ll have to get through court first.
Who is Aurélie Preston?
Aurélie Preston was a reality TV star who featured on popular French shows including Les Marseillais en Thaïlande and La villa des cœurs brisés (The Marseillais in Thailand and The Villa of Broken Hearts).
In more recent times she has turned her attention to singing and social media.
Now a glamour girl, Preston is a big deal on Instagram, boasting 652,000 followers.
She calls herself an artist and says she is the CEO of Madeleine Agency.
It appears to be a news agency although it’s unclear – a Madeleine Agency Instagram post says “coming soon”.
Preston struck up a relationship with a dentist in Geneva, but has since described it as “hell”.
Now it’s alleged she directed a kidnapping and robbery on her ex’s brother.