I'm a Celeb's Rebekah Vardy attempted suicide after years of sexual abuse by family friend

Rebekah Vardy, who won praise from I'm a Celebrity viewers after admitting to attempting suicide as a teenager and speaking out about suffering post-natal depression, suffered years of sexual abuse, it has been revealed.

The abuse, by a family friend, led her to spiral into depression, a friend of Vardy's told the Mirror.

Vardy had already spoken briefly in an Instagram post last month of the abuse but the friend has gone into more detail.

The friend said: "He didn't rape her. But he would grab her boobs. He tried to shove his hands down her trousers if he could.

"There was a time he was trying to grab her behind a bush and then someone came walking up the path and he just shoved her into this bramble bush.

"She started drinking, getting into fights at school. She became the black sheep of the family. Then she tried to take an overdose," the friend added.

Though Rebekah was found by a rescuer and forced to vomit up the drugs, her nightmare continued.

"It carried on," said the friend. "When she tried to tell her mum about it she was kicked out of the house because her mum didn't believe her.

"She was given a binbag full of her stuff and had the door slammed in her face."

Vardy, who has been married to Leicester City footballer Jamie since last year, had previously said: "It was a terrible time. Mum was so angry I was thrown out of home.

"I feel sorry for my mum for not having more strength to believe in me. I know I would have believed my girls and I would be there if they were in the same situation."

One viewer thanked Rebekah for opening up about post-natal depression, tweeting: "@RebekahVardy thank you for opening up on last night's show about PND...so brave of you. You're doing amazing in there. Your kids and husband must be so proud ".

While another said: "Everyone says @RebekahVardy is a bitch! I'm sorry but she's brutally honest. Says it how it is and gives credit when it's due. I prefer that to fakeness! #ImACeleb"

I'm A Celeb continues tonight at 9pm on ITV.