David's Sister Sobs as Alcoholic Lover is Jailed

David Beckham's sister sobbed yesterday as her lover was jailed for bombarding his ex-girlfriend with 'vile' abuse.

Lynne Beckham, 38, gasped and held her hand over her mouth as 'chronic alcoholic' Kevin Briggs, who has 18 previous convictions, was taken down to the cells. He had breached a restraining order by repeatedly making aggressive calls to charity worker Lisa Gilbey, the mother of his teenage son, days after getting out of jail for a similar offence.

Briggs, 37, had been repeatedly confrontational during their 13-year relationship, Snaresbrook Crown Court in East London heard. The couple broke up three years ago after Briggs tried to throttle Miss Gilbey because she refused to make him a sandwich, for which he was convicted of assault.

Last summer he was jailed for six months for breaching a restraining order over Miss Gilbey. Four days after his release, on January 22 this year, Briggs made the first of his calls to his ex-partner which left her 'anxious and distressed,' prosecutor Martin Whitehouse said.

However, the court was told, since his latest arrest Briggs has started to turn his life around, in large part because of the 'positive' influence of Miss Beckham.

Tara McCarthy, for Briggs, said the footballer's sister had helped him give up drink and had supported him in his battle with depression, Briggs has moved into Miss Beckham's £250,000 four-bed-room home in Romford, Essex, which the former England captain bought for her 12 years ago.

Miss McCarthy said: 'He has moved forward with a new relationship. They want to continue forward despite this.'

But sentencing Briggs to five months in jail, Judge Tudor Owen told him: 'I am far from satisfied that you genuinely want to change your ways. You made contact with your former partner by telephone and called her vile names in an aggressive manner which not surprisingly caused her distress. You called four days after serving a sentence for breaking the very same order.'

Briggs is an unemployed landscape gardener and lives on benefits with Miss Beckham, who has three children from her relationship with estranged husband Colin Every.

Beckham, 35, who has an estimated fortune of £125million, has always helped provide for his sister.

However, Miss Beckham is reported to be to be in such dire financial straits that she claiming £164 a week in handouts. Relations between Beckham and his jobless sister have been strained because of the footballer's disapproval of her estranged husband, Colin Every.

The couple married in 1999 and al though Beckham attended the ceremony, his wife Victoria refused to go. Miss Beckham and Every, 42, are now in the midst of a bitter divorce.

Source : Daily Mail

Lynne Beckham is Living On Benefits

David Beckham was said to be 'baffled and upset' yesterday after it emerged that his oldest sister is claiming state benefits.

The footballer, 35, who has an estimated fortune of £125million, has always helped provide for Lynne, 38. However, Miss Beckham is said to be in such dire financial straits that she is claiming £164 a week in handouts. She gets £68 a week in income support alongside £96 weekly tax credits.

In addition, the mother of three has a new live-in boyfriend - a man with a criminal record for violence.

A source close to the star said: 'David had no idea Lynne was on benefits. He bought her the house she lives in. He has always provided for her and her children. He has given her money and anything she needs, so he is clearly baffled and really quite upset.'

Relations between Beckham and his jobless sister have been strained over the years because of the footballer's disapproval of her estranged husband.

In 1998, feelings between the siblings chilled after her partner Colin Every was revealed to be selling cocaine from their home.

The couple married in 1999 and although Beckham attended the ceremony, his wife Victoria refused to go. Miss Beckham and Every, 42, are now in the midst of a bitter divorce.

Despite family rifts, the LA Galaxy player has always been financially generous towards his family.

Beckham bought his sister her £250,000 four-bedroom home in Romford, Essex, 12 years ago. She lives there with her children Georgina, 12, Freddie, ten, and Josh, five, from her relationship with Every.

A source said Miss Beckham had already moved new boyfriend Kevin Briggs into her home - despite meeting him on Facebook only a few weeks ago.

Beckham, however, is said to be unaware of the brutal background of his sister's new man. He met Briggs when he and Victoria invited their family to a Whitney Houston concert in London last month.

Yesterday Briggs's ex-girlfriend, charity worker Lisa Gilbey, claimed that he was a violent alcoholic who had been jailed for eight months for beating her up. He faces prison again on Thursday for breaking a restraining order she had placed on him.

Miss Gilbey, who has a young son with Briggs, said: 'I know David is close to his sister, but I don't think he realises what sort of a man she has got herself involved with. He is a nasty bit of work. When he is sober, he is fine, but when he has been drinking he turns into someone I don't recognise.'

Miss Gilbey said she finally left Briggs when he tried to throttle her after she refused to make him a sandwich. Briggs was jailed for common assault.

Beckham remains close to his younger sister, Joanne, 28, a part time hairdresser.

He also bought her a home, a £500,000 townhouse in Essex. The footballer once said: 'The only thing my Dad said to me was "look after your two sisters", and I always will.'

The revelations of his sister's financial problems mark the end of a bad week for Beckham. He was left shocked by Fabio Capello's announcement that his England career was over, without being told first.

A spokesman for Beckham last night refused to comment, while Miss Beckham said: 'I have nothing to say.'

Source : Daily Mail