Ferne McCann’s jailer Arthur Collins found love with an Essex mother while he was in prison and the couple are engaged, MailOnline can reveal.
Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017.
He posed the question on Sunday – a week after Ferne, 31, announced she is getting married to six-month-old boyfriend Lorri Haines.
Businesswoman Annie Jane, 33, confirmed the couple’s engagement on Instagram, telling friends and family “I said yes” while sharing a tattoo of Arthur’s name inked on her stomach.
‘They’re soul mates’: Ferne McCann’s jailbird ex Arthur Collins (left) found love with Essex mom Annie Jane while incarcerated for acid attack on couple who were about to get married, we can reveal
A source close to Annie told MailOnline: ‘Arthur and Annie met through mutual friends before his prison sentence.
“They plan to marry later this year while he is still behind bars after dating for the past six months.
“Annie knows about Arthur’s past, but is willing to commit to him and even get a tattoo of his name to prove her love.
‘They have a lot in common; Annie also has a young daughter and believes the couple connect on a spiritual level.
‘Happily ever after’: Arthur posed the question on Sunday – a week after his TOWIE ex Ferne announced she’s getting married to six-month-old boyfriend Lorri Haines
In love: The source explained that Annie has been helping Arthur during his rehab and she is looking forward to when they can be a normal family together
“They fell in love after writing and talking to each other during prison visits and Annie believes Arthur truly regrets everything that happened.
“Annie has done a lot for Arthur’s rehabilitation, she feels they are soul mates, and together they look forward to the future and one day to have a family life of their own.”
Arthur, who shares four daughters with former TOWIE star Ferne on Sunday, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars after being found guilty of hurling a corrosive substance over a crowd on the dance floor at Mangle E8 nightclub in what Jude Noel Lucas said. was a ‘despicable act’.
Sixteen people suffered chemical burns and three people were temporarily blinded.
In court, Judge Noel described it as a “deliberate and calculated attack” during Arthur’s sentencing in December 2017.
Arthur is currently incarcerated in Category ‘A’ HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
Commitment: Annie shared a tattoo of Arthur’s name inked on her stomach on Sunday as friends and family congratulated her on the couple’s engagement
‘I will love you forever’: A source close to Annie told MailOnline the pair have a lot in common after connecting on a ‘spiritual’ level
In January, it was reported that Arthur was dating former Take Me Out contestant Gemma Elliott.
Sources told The Sun the pair were “officially a couple” after Gemma shared photos of herself posing in red pajamas with the embossed name “Arthur” tagged on his Instagram profile.
Ferne’s friend Lorri posed the question in France earlier this month.
The ITVBe star shared an image of the couple kissing while showing off her engagement ring alongside the caption: ‘That’s how happily ever after.
“Can’t wait to hang out with you forever, honey.”
Ferne, whose camera crew captured the romantic moment for her TV show First Time Mum, wrote on Instagram: “It feels so surreal to call Lorri my fiancé.
“I can’t wait to relive this moment when I laughed so hard and cried at the same time. Thank you, Lorri, for making me so blissful.’
In February, Ferne’s fiancée Lorri was filmed appearing to be snorting a white powder.
He danced topless to music while holding two small, clear bags.
Lorri claimed he didn’t do drugs and was “joking about it.”
The clip came a month after Ferne went public with Lorri, a Dubai-based broker.
‘Can’t wait to be with you forever’: Ferne and Dubai broker Lorri got engaged earlier this month after a whirlwind six-month romance