When the nation found out late last week that Natalie Cassidy's ex-fiance Adam Cottrell had been involved in breaking a pensioner's window after he missed a train, they were neither surprised nor, it we're honest, particularly interested. 

That's because Adam has a history of violence going all the way back to last year when he put a slipper through a microwave door. Unfortunately for Adam, his violent outbursts and lack of respect for her hibachi meant that Natalie had no choice but to leave him soon after reporting him to the police, even though the two were engaged. TO BE MARRIED.

Everyone who was interested in her welfare supported Natalie's choice because, as we all know, domestic abuse is not only not funny, it's bad, and shouldn't ever happen except perhaps if both parties are wearing those big inflatable sumo suits. It's hard to stay angry in one of those.

Despite all this though, it seems Adam's apology after he got blackout drunk and punched that stupid pensioner's window impressed Natalie enough for her to take him back, blaming the entire sorry story on Cottrell's love of hard alcohol. (Via The People)

“I know many people will ­question my decision. Others will disagree with my choice.

“But I do forgive Adam. We are back together and I ­strongly believe we can make it work.

“At the moment we are taking it one day at a time. It’s the only way forward.

“But we love each other to pieces and are happier than we have ever been.”

“I don’t want people to think of me as a ­victim. And I certainly don’t want people to think I’m going back into a violent relationship because I am scared to be alone. I would never do that to myself or to my daughter.

“I now realise everything that happened ­between Adam and myself was down to alcohol. Adam wanting a drink, Adam having a drink, Adam feeling guilty about having a drink.

“And he knows this too. But that is why he has sought help and is in recovery. He has not had a drink for more than 60 days and I am very proud of his achievement.

“I will never forget the things he did to me during that awful time but I do forgive him.

“He says he is deeply sorry and I believe he means it. When he doesn’t drink he is totally different – and that is the person I am ­planning my future with.

“Now he needs to forgive himself and leave what ­happened behind.

“I don’t think he’s there yet. It’s still very recent.”

“He never beat me up. There are people who are beaten black and blue every day. But sometimes mental abuse is as bad. And that is what I suffered.

“Everything he has done to me is disgusting but I truly believe it has all been caused by alcohol. And he won’t be acting that way again.

“For a long time after Adam ­assaulted me I forced myself to think he was an evil person who I never wanted to see again. I taught myself to hate him. Ihad to look after Eliza and myself and I found the strength to walk away. It was my way of coping. It was exactly the right decision to take at the time.

“But in December when he called me sobbing, I realised he was someone who needed help, someone on the brink of losing everything.

“And the deep-rooted feelings of love I still had for him erupted."

It goes on for a bit after that but you get the idea. He drinks, she forgives him, etc etc. Our personal favourite moment was when she said her love erupted. That really tugged at our heartstrings. What's that, you say? It's a terrible idea?

Why yes, yes it is.