It’s not the kind of headline you expect to see about a former Big Brother contestant—but Simone Reed, who once lived under constant camera surveillance on national TV, is now in the spotlight for something far more serious and disturbing.
A violent incident in North Yorkshire earlier this year has landed Reed in court, accused of playing a key role in a terrifying Molotov cocktail attack that left one man badly burned.
A Night Out Turns Into Horror in Redcar
On February 15, what started as a typical night out in Redcar spiraled into chaos when Reed and her friend Carl Wild got into a heated argument with another man, David Brotton.
The confrontation escalated in a way few could imagine—Reed drove to a petrol station to buy fuel, which was then used to make a firebomb.
Wild later hurled the flaming bottle directly at Brotton’s head outside a bar on Queen Street, setting him ablaze.
Disturbing CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment the victim tried desperately to extinguish the flames, jumping back and throwing himself to the ground as fire engulfed him.
Violence Continues Inside the Bar
The attack didn’t end there. After launching the Molotov cocktail, Carl Wild stormed into Peggy Junes Bar, where the situation turned even more violent.
According to witnesses, he began attacking clubgoers, smashing up furniture, and even stealing from the till.
Three people were taken to hospital with serious, though non-life-threatening injuries, and the entire scene left the local community in shock. Police quickly intervened, and both Reed and Wild were arrested.
Courtroom Tears and Electronic Tags
Fast forward to Teesside Crown Court, where Simone Reed, now 36, tearfully admitted to encouraging or assisting arson, as reported by The Sun.
Reed, who now lives in Eaglescliffe, was granted bail under strict conditions, including a curfew between 7pm and 5am.
After her arrest, Reed posted a photo to social media showing off the electronic tag on her ankle, a move that drew criticism and disbelief online.
Meanwhile, Carl Wild, 34 and from Redcar, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary.
Another man, Lee Wild, 37, also from Redcar, admitted to causing fear of violence.
All three are now awaiting sentencing in October.
A Controversial Reality TV Past
This isn’t the first time Simone Reed has stirred headlines.
In 2017, she appeared on Big Brother as a late entry into the house, only to become one of the most controversial contestants of that season.
Her run on the show ended in more drama when she was reportedly removed from the crowd during the live final for spitting on fellow housemate Andrew Cruickshanks.
She later claimed on social media that she was unfazed about being banned from the show’s wrap party.
Fans at the time weren’t so forgiving—many slammed her behavior online, calling it “disgusting.”
Legal Troubles Long Before Reality TV
Even before her Big Brother stint, Reed had a checkered past.
In 2009, she served six months in prison after being convicted of affray—a charge involving public fighting or disorder.
Her time in reality television was always controversial, with many questioning why she was chosen to enter the house in the first place.
Since then, she’s also made appearances on The X Factor and On Benefits, but it’s clear that Reed’s reality TV fame has now taken a backseat to a much darker legal chapter.