Love Island star Shaughna Phillips had her world turned upside down when her partner, Billy Webb, was jailed over drug charges.

But back in July, she revealed she’s “very happy” after confirming her reunion with her jailbird ex. She had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with 29-year-old Billy since 2020 and later announced her pregnancy with their first child.

But in January 2023, Shaughna was left devastated when Billy was arrested during a police raid while she was 30 weeks pregnant, as he had become involved in criminal activity without her knowledge. Billy was sentenced to nine years in prison for admitting to conspiracy to supply 4.5kg of cocaine with a minimum value of £360,000.

There were reports that Shaughna, who has recently undergone a huge weight loss journey, had appealed for a reduced sentence, which she denies. “I wrote a letter on behalf of my daughter but I didn’t ask for less time. Not at all,” she clarified to OK!.

“I described how Billy is as a person and it was from Lucia’s point of view, and included things like, ‘I’m looking forward to being with my dad when he’s home.’ I had a duty to do that for her as her Mummy. The fact I wrote the letter was then spun up into a story in the papers, saying we were back together. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Shaughna had initially split with the father of her daughter, Lucia, following his arrest. But now, she has confirmed that they are back together.

When fans on social media asked Shaughna whether she’d be joining the upcoming series of Love Island All-Stars, She responded: “If I were single, I definitely would. Alas, I am not, so I will be sitting on my sofa watching my friends getting up to tomfoolery. I’m very happy with my little life.”

The reality TV sensation also opened up about her love life when probed by a fan curious about the challenges of finding a partner as a single mum, to which she candidly replied: “Not when it’s her dad.”

In a move to maintain her daughter’s bond with her father, the ex-democratic services officer made weekly prison visits with Lucia to see Billy. Shaughna has been open about the emotional journey of taking one-year-old Lucia to visit her father behind bars, admitting it was a situation she never envisioned herself in.

“It’s not a decision I made lightly and I won’t lie, the first time I took her was really scary and daunting,” she shared. “I don’t think what was happening hit me until I got into the building. I was so nervous but it was never a question for me. I always knew I was going to take Lucia to visit her dad.”

Despite the grim setting, Shaughna felt compelled to do this for her daughter, saying, “Although it’s the last place on earth I’d hope to take a baby, I just felt like I owed it to her. Billy’s obviously missed out on a lot in her life due to his actions but I was never going to stand in the way of him being a dad.”

The idea of Lucia growing up without meeting her father weighed heavily on Shaughna, particularly as she experienced the loss of her own father, Eddie, at the age of 22.

Shaughna has spoken candidly about the significance of her daughter Lucia’s relationship with her father, underlining its equal importance to the bond Lucia shares with her

Despite facing scrutiny over her decision to allow Billy to see Lucia while he was behind bars, Shaughna stood firm, reflecting on her own cherished memories with her father and her determination not to let Billy become a stranger to their child. “The bond Lucia has with her dad is just as important as the one she has with me,” she insisted.

“I had the best dad growing up, but I know what it’s like not to have a dad there. I would never want Billy to be a stranger to her.”

She went on to explain that Lucia’s young age played a role in her judgment, hinting at the challenges of visiting environments that might be unsettling for an older, more perceptive child.

“I know people might not agree, but if she was older, I think I would struggle more with my decision. If she was more aware of her surroundings, it would be difficult for her to see him. It’s not nice and you get searched by sniffer dogs. I’m grateful, in a strange way, that this all happened when it did.”

In November 2024, Billy got early release from prison. Announcing the news to her fans, Shaughna wrote: “If you had told me this time last year that me and Billy would be taking Lucia to see Santa next Christmas, I probably wouldn’t have let myself believe you,

“The best couple of days; this Christmas is going to be so special.”

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