Go away, Daily Star.
Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has a dark family secret – her father was jailed after a vicious street battle left an amateur boxer dead.
Dad John was found guilty of murder and affray after a fight outside a nightclub left amateur boxer Paul Reidy dead in 1985. The murder conviction was later overturned on appeal.
He was jailed for life after roofer Paul Reidy was knifed three times outside a nightclub in 1985.
John Nelson, 46, was originally found guilty of murder and dubbed the “Disco Killer”.
But the X Factor contestant’s father had his conviction overturned shortly afterwards following an appeal and instead served a shorter sentence for affray.
Nelson, now a successful businessman, married the girlband star’s mother Janis – now a police community support officer – at South London’s Brixton Prison in August 1985 while he was being held on remand for the murder.
Nelson was later cleared of the killing, which took place outside Lautrec’s disco in Dagenham in 1985.
He was dragged screaming and protesting from the Old Bailey court after the jury returned a guilty verdict at the end of his 1986 trial.
Seething Nelson – whose daughter is one quarter of the girlband tipped to win this year’s X Factor – turned to the jurors as he was led to the cells and shouted: “I’ll be out one day,” before he was removed from the court.
Nelson also screamed: “No, no,” as he was led from the courtroom.
But last night a source close to the family and friends of the victim told how watching Nelson’s daughter – who was not brought up by him – make a bid for fame and fortune on the reality show has served as a painful reminder of Mr Reidy’s untimely death.
The source – who asked not to be named – told us: “Paul could have been married with kids now.
“He has been prevented from enjoying any of that.
“Now Nelson’s daughter is 20, making the most of her life on X Factor. Paul was 20 when his life was snuffed out.
“She’s in the limelight now while Paul’s life was taken away at the same age.
“Nelson got married in prison while on remand for the murder.”
The source added: “Paul’s family were devastated after the murder conviction was overturned.
“Paul was a gentleman – we all still miss him today.”
But while the victim’s friends and family see Jesy’s appearance on the reality show as a reminder of Mr Reidy’s violent death, relatives of the singer have spoken fondly of their daughter’s success.
Jesy’s mum Janis, 51, now a PCSO in Canvey Island, Essex, spoke proudly of her daughter’s battle against bullying about her weight both at school and on the internet prior to taking part on the ITV programme.
Speaking last month, the police worker said: “It’s all so surreal, I can’t believe it.
“I’m just so happy for her at the moment, especially after everything she’s been through to get to this point.
“When she was younger, she used to be bullied quite badly at her school.
“I think she’s always been a bit different and you know what kids are like.
“They think that everyone should act and look the same way.”
Last week Little Mix embarked on a non-stop week of promotional events and publicity stunts in a bid to ensure the quartet are guaranteed victory in this year’s competition.
Meanwhile the singer’s father has remained silent on his daughter’s bid for stardom.
Cleared Nelson, who now runs a string of businesses including the Nelson’s Garden Centre in Hornchurch, Essex, reacted angrily when confronted with the details of our story last night.
He told us: “I’m not interested. I’m not interested in talking to you. You’ve got nothing good to say about anything and I don’t want nothing to do with it.
“The best thing you can do is count me right out of it.”
Little Mix are neck-and-neck with Marcus Collins as bookies’ favourites to win the X Factor final which airs on ITV next weekend.
Source