What should’ve been a normal week for Jennifer Ellison turned into a nightmare when her beloved dance studio in Liverpool was broken into.
The actress-turned-dance-school founder shared the devastating news with her Instagram followers, revealing that her children’s possessions—including iPads, bikes, and laptops—were all stolen in the early morning raid.
Burglary Caught on Camera
The break-in happened at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, and Jennifer wasted no time sharing CCTV footage of the male suspect.
In a passionate post, she pleaded for the public’s help and even offered a cash reward for anyone who could identify him.
“Tell me who this rat is and where he is and I’ll give you a huge cash reward!” she wrote, furious.
“Broke into our studios at 5am, took all my kids’ bikes, laptops, iPads—everything. The RAT!”
Small Victory Amid Chaos
Despite the heartbreak, Jennifer did get a glimmer of good news.
She later updated her followers to say that one kind stranger had managed to retrieve one of her children’s stolen bikes.
While it’s far from a full recovery, she expressed deep gratitude for the effort.
A Passion Project Years in the Making
After stepping back from her acting career, Jennifer poured her heart into her dance school, Jelli Studios, in Liverpool.
The school has gone on to produce top-tier talent, including acts featured on Britain’s Got Talent and The Greatest Dancer.
According to the studio’s website, Jelli Studios offers “elite, intensive training” in dance and musical theatre for young people dreaming of professional careers in the performing arts.
From Soap Stardom to Family Life
Jennifer, now 42, has been married to former boxer Rob Tickle since 2009.
The couple met in 2008 and got engaged just months later during a romantic getaway in the Maldives.
A year after that, they tied the knot in Mauritius.
Together, they’ve built a life in Liverpool with their three sons—Bobby, Harry, and Charlie—and Jennifer also has two stepdaughters, Chloe and Sophie.
Family life is clearly central to her world now, which is why the studio break-in hit her so hard.
A Past Full of Pain and Survival
Though she now lives a more peaceful life, Jennifer’s past has been anything but easy.
As a teenager rising to fame on Brookside, she became involved with local gangster Anthony Richardson.
Their six-year relationship was marked by violence, fear, and trauma.
Jennifer has previously spoken about the horrifying incidents she endured—being driven off the road by rival gangs, having her house shot at, and even receiving nails through her letterbox.
Richardson, who was later jailed in 2011 for a brutal sword attack, left Jennifer physically and emotionally scarred.
“It Was Like Living Two Lives”
Jennifer has described those years as a time when she felt split in two—one life in the spotlight and another in the shadows of Liverpool’s gangland scene.
She admitted that for a long time, she thought this kind of chaos was “normal.”
Reflecting on that period, she told The Mirror, “I was such a young girl—I was a baby.
It was so traumatic and horrific what I was going through.”
Healing Through Reality TV
In 2022, Jennifer took part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, where she opened up about her past during a powerful conversation with Commando Jason “Foxy” Fox.
The experience, she said, helped her confront everything she had buried for years.
“It was like the best therapy session ever,” she revealed.
“I feel like opening up in the mirror room put that part of my life to bed.”
A Relationship That Nearly Destroyed Her
The turning point came when Jennifer discovered her then-fiancé, Tony, was cheating—with none other than footballer John Terry’s ex-girlfriend, Shalimar Wimble.
She now calls that moment her “get out of jail free card.”
Despite all she endured, Jennifer credits those harrowing years with making her who she is today—but admits she may be dealing with PTSD as a result.
Thankfully, with her family, dance school, and a quieter life in Liverpool, she’s found a sense of peace.
Holding On to Hope After the Break-In
While the recent burglary at her studio was a cruel reminder of life’s unpredictability, Jennifer remains strong.
She’s continuing to appeal for help in recovering the stolen items and has been uplifted by the support she’s received from her community and followers.
Through every twist—past or present—Jennifer Ellison proves she’s more than a survivor.
She’s a fighter, a mother, and a woman who refuses to let the darkness win.