Love Island is no stranger to drama — but the latest twist isn’t coming from a tropical villa.
Instead, it’s unfolding in the unlikeliest of places: a prison in Rochdale.
Ferne McCann’s ex-boyfriend, Arthur Collins, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for a nightclub acid attack, is reportedly in a new relationship with former Love Island contestant Amelia Peters.
Jailed for Acid Attack, Now in a New Romance
Arthur Collins, now 32, was convicted in 2017 for throwing acid across a packed dance floor at nightclub Mangle E8, an attack that left 16 people seriously injured.
Since then, he’s been behind bars — and yet, according to reports, he’s somehow managed to maintain a dating life.
His latest love interest? Amelia Peters, a 26-year-old former teaching assistant who briefly appeared on Love Island Season 3.
Sources claim she’s been visiting Collins at HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale and has even spoken openly about their relationship to friends, describing him as “the one” and saying she believes he’s changed.
Social Media Hints and Secret Prison Calls
Amelia may not have named Arthur directly, but fans picked up on the clues.
On his birthday, she shared a picture of red roses and a mysterious letter “A,” writing: “Happy birthday to the most handsome pain in the a**e, love you x.”
It’s also claimed Collins has been using a mobile phone in prison to stay in constant contact with her — which, by law, is strictly prohibited.
If caught, it could earn him more jail time or a hefty fine.
This wouldn’t be his first time flouting the rules either.
Back in 2018, he was slapped with an additional eight-month sentence for using a smuggled phone to call Ferne from his prison cell.
Friends Are Worried, But Amelia Won’t Back Down
Sources close to Amelia say she’s not hiding the relationship and has told people she’s deeply into Arthur.
While some of her friends are understandably concerned, Amelia apparently believes he’s turned over a new leaf and is choosing to trust him, despite his past.
However, another source has pushed back on the romance claims, insisting Amelia and Arthur are just “family friends.”
MailOnline reached out to both Amelia and the prison for comment but has not received a response yet.
Amelia’s Brief Brush With Fame
Amelia first entered the public eye as a Casa Amor bombshell on Love Island in 2017.
Although her time in the villa was short — just two days, in fact — she made headlines as the youngest contestant ever to appear on the show at just 18.
Now, she’s back in the spotlight, though probably not in the way she expected.
Not Arthur’s First Prison Relationship
This isn’t the first time Arthur has made headlines for his prison love life.
In 2022, it was revealed he had gotten engaged to Annie Jane — a former Page 3 model and adult TV presenter — while still behind bars.
Annie even had his name tattooed on her stomach and announced their engagement on Instagram with a post that read, “I said yes.”
The two reportedly bonded over letters and prison visits, and sources close to Annie said she believed in Arthur’s potential for redemption.
They shared a spiritual connection, and Annie, who also has a daughter, said she was committed to building a life with him in the future.
A Pattern of Prison Romances
Before Amelia and Annie, Arthur was also linked to Gemma Elliott, who appeared on the dating show Take Me Out.
His ability to charm women — even from a prison cell — seems to be a recurring theme.
Arthur shares a daughter, Sunday, now seven years old, with former TOWIE star Ferne McCann.
Their relationship began in 2016, but it ended in heartbreak.
Ferne was pregnant when Arthur committed the acid attack that shocked the nation.
He was found guilty of what the judge described as a “despicable act” and sentenced to 20 years behind bars.
Ferne Has Moved On With a New Life
Since then, Ferne has completely turned the page.
She is now engaged to businessman Lori Haines, with whom she shares another daughter, Finty, who is nearly two years old.
The couple announced their engagement in July 2022, just seven months after going public with their relationship.
What Happens Next?
While Arthur remains behind bars and awaits the rest of his sentence, his name continues to appear in headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Whether his connection with Amelia Peters is genuine or just another tabloid rumor remains to be confirmed — but one thing’s certain: the drama surrounding Arthur Collins never seems to end.