Big Fat Gypsy star arrested after brawl at friend's wedding in car park

By Daily Mail Reporter


Popular: Swanley Smith and his 17-year-old bride Josie were among the show's most popular characters


One of the stars of TV's Big Fat Gypsy Weddings was arrested following a brawl at the wedding of one of his own friends.

Swanley Smith, one of the stars of the reality show, was held by police after rival gypsy fighters were embroiled in a punch-up in the car park of a Holiday Inn in Golders Green, north London.

Officers were driving past the venue on Monday night when the fight broke out, it has been reported.

Quizzed: Dad-of-one Swanley, who has just turned 21, was arrested along with two other travellers


According to The Sun, a raucous crowd egged on fighters and a police officer was forced to defend himself with CS spray after he was knocked to the ground when he intervened as two men squared up to each other.

After police managed to stop the fighting, they made three arrests. Dad-of-one Swanley, who turned 21 that day, was quizzed by officers as well as two other travellers aged 17 and 21 years.

A source told The Sun: 'It was all over a massive family feud. There must have been 40 people involved, throwing punches.'

Hitched: Swanley and Josie on their wedding day, which was featured on Channel 4's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding


Swanley's mother Christine added: 'It was his 21st birthday, but he was attending a wedding. It wasn't very nice getting arrested.'

A family friend also told The Sun: 'He doesn't want to say anything that might make the situation worse.'

Swanley became famous when he and his 17-year-old bride Josie featured in the Channel 4 series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.

The pair, who became one of the show's most well-known characters, live on a travellers' site in Caterham, Surrey.

Surprise hit: The Channel 4 show Big Fat Gypsy Weddings fast became essential viewing as traveller families allowed the cameras into their secret world

Secret world: The travelling community's customs and culture were laid bare in the show


source:dailymail