If you want to tell your story, fill in the form on the right or call our writers on 0117 973 0705.

“He makes me happy, that’s what counts,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

Damian had just come out of jail for assault and had been living in a half-way house nearby which was known to be super rough. But I tried to keep an open mind – Kerry was besotted, she was my best friend and I trusted her judgement.

I met Kerry when I was just 14-years-old. I started hanging out with a group of young people from my hometown, Fareham, and Kerry, then 21, was the eldest girl in the clan. We all looked up to her.

She took me out to a pub for my 16th birthday and I used to babysit her kids. We saw each other every day and even my mum thought she was a good friend to me.

“It’s nice you’ve got someone a bit older to keep an eye out for you,” Mum said after meeting Kerry.

But since she started dating Damian in 2001, Kerry had been drinking a lot more. I missed seeing her every day like we used to, but I knew she’d always have my back if I needed her – and vice-versa.

Then in July 2002, I got a text from Kerry. “Fancy a drink at the Arthur Lee?” It read. That was our local pub where Damian worked as a chef.

I headed down there to find both Kerry and Damian sat at a table with a drink ready for me.

“Ah, cheers!” I said, smiling as I took a sip.

But Kerry barely met my gaze as she looked up. “We need you to do something for us,” she said quietly.

“If the Police ever ask you about where we were yesterday, you have to say we were down the fields behind the museum having a barbecue with you, OK?”

“Why?” I blurted out, thinking they’d been shoplifting or something.

“Just do it!” Damian said through gritted teeth. “Lie or die,” said Kerry, as her face went pale.

I was only 17-years-old at the time and scared of knowing anything else. So I quickly changed the subject.

The next morning, Kerry and Damian came round to my flat. “Can you put the news on?” Damian said as he stepped out onto the balcony off my lounge.

“A woman has been found naked and unconscious in a remote part of Hambledon after being badly beaten up two days ago…” the newscaster’s voice trailed off as my mind went into a spin.

Kerry was sat on the sofa. She had a look in her eye I’d never seen before. Utter fear. I glanced over at Damian who was looking out over the balcony. He was shaking.
“Damian, come here a sec,” I said as I locked the door behind him.

Kerry and Damian shifted in the sofa. “I want to know what’s going on – now,” I said, nervously.

“It was her fault – she started flirting with Damian after we went drinking together,” Kerry said, the anger raw in her voice. “I hit her round the head with a vodka bottle and then Damian beat her too.”

I felt sick. I couldn’t believe the words they were saying. How could my best friend be capable of this? Kerry’s words, “Lie or die” rang in my head as I tried to cover up how shocked I was.

“Waste of vodka, eh?!” I joked, trying to keep calm so they didn’t realise I was freaking out. All the while, Damian just sat in silence. It was chilling.

We headed into town and met up with the others in our group.

“We’re off now – got some things to deal with,” Damian said breezily. As soon as they left, I went home, my heart racing.

Later that evening, I switched on the local news again for an update.

“A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the attack that took place in Hambledon which left a young woman brutally beaten up and fighting for her life,” the reporter said. My stomach lurched. Have they caught the right people? I wondered.

Then, I heard a knock at the door – it was Dean, Kerry’s housemate.

“Can I stay with you? Kerry’s been taken in for questioning about this attack and our house is being searched by the Police – have you seen it on the news?” he asked.

I nodded, ushering him in, then confided in Dean that Kerry had confessed to carrying out the attack.

“Yes,” Dean’s voice stammered. “She told me the same thing this afternoon as she packed a load of clothes and left.”

“But she’s asked me to provide an alibi – if I don’t, they’ll get me too,” I said, panicked.

That night, I wrestled with my dilemma. Tell the Police, betray my best friend, and risk their threats – or break the law.

I was lost in thought and diving into a state of panic when my baby daughter, Chloe started crying in the room next door.

“Don’t cry, Mummy’s here,” I soothed. Looking at Chole’s tear-stained cheeks, it dawned on me: that young woman who was in a coma had a mum too.

If anyone did anything to harm my baby girl, I’d want justice. The victim of Kerry and Damian’s crime – and her family – needed justice too.

The next morning, I could hear my heart beating in my ears as I walked into the police station in Fareham.

Stark grey walls stood tall and a strong gust of disinfectant fumes passed by as I asked to talk to someone about the attack.

I was ushered into an interview room with two CID officers and for the next six hours, I spilled all the information out.

I fought my nerves and did what had to be done. It was a draining day but worth it – Kerry and Damian were arrested and charged.

A few months later, I got a letter through the post summoning me to court in July 2002 to give evidence against my best friend.

Standing in the witness box, seeing Kerry and Damian again for the first time since their confession was unnerving. They looked like different people – longer hair, disshevelled.

I managed to look straight into their eyes. You don’t scare me, I told myself as I gave evidence.

I tried to avoid all the newspapers and TV news – I didn’t want to see their faces again. But it was the talk of the town and I couldn’t go to the local post office without people recognising me and congratulating me on doing the right thing and helping catch Kerry and Damian.

Most of the people from our group of friends had to give evidence too, so I didn’t suffer any backlash for grassing up Kerry and Damian.

Weeks later, I got a call from my nan – she’d seen the news. Kerry had been found guilty of GBH and Damian was found guilty of rape and attempted murder.

Kerry was sentenced to five years in prison, Damian was given 25 years. I didn’t even know about the rape. another shudder ran through me like a bolt of lightening.

“At least they’re behind bars now, love. You can get on with your life, put this behind you,” Nan soothed.

But four months after they were convicted, the victim died from her injuries. She’d never regained consciousness in the whole 16 months since the attack first took place.

I received another letter summoning me to give evidence again. Kerry and Damian were being retried – both for murder in September 2004.

When I saw them in court this time, neither of them even looked up at me. It was like they were dead to me.

I was with my mum when I heard they’d both been found guilty of murder. Kerry was sentenced to eight years and Damian was given life in jail.

The relief was immense. “That’s brilliant – they’ll be in prison forever!” I screamed, hugging my mum.

“Life doesn’t always mean life though,” she warned.

“It should do – she deserves it.”

But just as I was putting the second round of the horror behind me, I got an anonymous letter through the post.

“Watch your back when I get out because you’re next on my list,” it read. I knew it was from Kerry.

I don’t know if I was scared or being naive, but I put the letter straight in the bin and tried to get on with my life.

But this year, I suspected that Kerry was due out of prison. My ex, Paul Dean, looked it up online. “She’s due out in two months’ time,” he told me over the phone.

Shivers ran through me once again. I had five children to look after – I couldn’t bear to think about Kerry sticking to her word, seeing revenge and my kids growing up without their mum.

Thankfully, the Police told me Kerry wasn’t coming out of prison anytime soon. Obviously she’d got into some trouble while inside, but I didn’t ask about it. I was just so grateful I could breathe easy again.

I know I did the right thing dobbing in Kerry – I hope she never gets out of prison.

By Susie Bowers

It’s another exciting day at Sell My Story. We’ve had features published in two of the glammest and glossiest national magazines: Reveal and Closer.

When heavily pregnant Emma French, 20, felt contractions just hours before her driving test she faced sitting her driving exam, whilst in labour. We sold her story to Reveal magazine and previously to Real People magazine. Click here to read the full story.

As a 14-year-old boy Kody developed an obsession with Britney Spears. He wanted to be like her – exactly like her. Despite his mum’s grave concerns, Kody transformed into Kara when he had a sex change and breast implants aged 18. Now, 26, Kara’s finally living as the woman she’s always wanted to be – all thanks to her idol, Britney Spears. We sold her story to Close magazine.

Emma French hadn’t been planning a family with her boyfriend of three years, Neil, 21, when she discovered she was pregnant in February last year.

But the surprise pregnancy was nothing compared to the shock she faced when her waters broke in the early hours of 30th August – the day her driving test was booked for.

“I couldn’t wait to learn to drive,” the mum-of-one from Livingston says. “I was fed up of public transport and knew that with our little one on the way it would be even more useful.”

Emma, who had previously failed one driving test, wasn’t due to give birth to her daughter, Eva, until 2nd October, over a month after the test booked for the end of August.

“I thought I had plenty of time. So when I woke up at 4am on the morning of my test, feeling contractions I put it down to Braxton Hicks.

“It was just my body practicing labour and I’d had them the week before. But then I felt my waters break. I knew that this time, it was different.”

By 7.30am that morning, just over an hour before her driving test, scheduled for 8.40am, Emma’s contractions were 15 minutes apart. There was no doubting it, her little girl was well on her way.

“I was determined to take the test anyway,” remembers Emma. “Mum wanted to get me to hospital, but I knew I’d have to wait months to book another test. I pleaded with her to let me take it.”

Emma’s mum eventually relented and Emma made her way to the test centre. She didn’t dare tell Neil, as she knew he’d only worry, but confessed to her instructor – who agreed to sit in the back of the car with her during her test, as moral support.

“When the examiner asked me if I thought I could handle an emergency stop I was really nervous. Luckily, it’s not a compulsory manoeuvre and he didn’t push it.”

As Emma pulled away she tried desperately to concentrate on her driving, but all she could think about was her little girl, and the fact that she was in labour.

“The contractions were coming and going. I tried to smile through the pain but I’m sure it looked more like a grimace.

“I took some deep breaths, using breathing techniques I’d been taught to use during labour. The examiner thought I was trying to calm my nerves. If only he knew!”

Emma regained her composure, despite painful contractions coming every 15 minutes during her 45-minute test, and got through it to the end.

“When I pulled up to a stop the examiner got out his notes and began talking me through the test,” Emma remembers.

“I just wanted him to hurry up, I knew I didn’t have much time. Thankfully, my instructor chipped in and explained that we really needed to get going.”

That’s when the examiner announced that all Emma’s hard work had paid off – she’d passed. She had only received 10 minor points out of a maximum 16. Now, all her efforts were focussed on her little girl.

“I arrived at hospital at around 12 noon, by which time I was already three centimetres dilated,” says Emma.

Seven-and-a-half hours later, at 7.30pm, little Eva was born, weighing five pounds and half an ounce – a healthy weight considering she was five weeks premature. Three days later, Emma brought her new baby home.

“Two weeks later I bought my first car. I can’t wait to tell Eva the story of how she was born when she’s older. One good thing about being in labour that day was, it really killed my pre-test nerves!”

By Helen O’Brien

Every week we place our clients’ photos in newspapers and magazine across the world, earning a top fee every time the photo is used. National newspapers and magazines are looking for pictures of anything from a cute animal to a controversial issue – and we can help maximise your profits. You can email us here or call our story hotline: 0117 973 0705 to find out how much your photo is worth.

This week we’ve sold two picture stories to national women’s magazines. First, we worked with Paula and Gerard Culhane who wanted to publicise their incredible weight loss photos. We sold their story to Chat magazine.

Paula, 32, and Gerard, 24, met online when both were too embarrassed about their bulky bodies to date in the real world. Together they tucked into fatty takeaways and junk food until their combined weight ballooned to just under 40 stone. But now, hit TV show The Biggest Loser has changed their lives – and Paula can look forward to walking down the aisle as a slim bride.

We also worked with Julia Beagley, who approached Sell My Story with her quirky story, and photos, of her ‘boob party.’ We placed her story in Love it! magazine.

Julia, 18, hated her 30H breasts. She was plagued with constant health problems and they attracted a lot of unwanted attention. After a year long battle, the NHS offered her surgery. To celebrate, her friends threw a surprise goodbye party – for her boobs. In July last year she had them reduced to a 30E. Now Julia has bid farewell to her big boobs, she’s happier than ever.

After battling a life-threatening health condition, which left her disfigured and in hospital for most of her teenage years, Chantelle Richardson thought she’d been through it all. She’d even faced shocking prejudice from strangers- because of the way she looked.

Then, in 2010, doctors delivered another devastating blow – her condition was so severe she could never have children. Suddenly she was forced to face the hardest obstacle yet.

Despite husband Brett, 29, standing by her, she believed he’d resent her for not giving him the family he craved, and so she begged him to leave.

Brett initially refused but eventually left her. He is now expecting a baby with another woman. Chantelle was devastated but relieved – because she now knows she made the right decision.

Chantelle, from Littleborough, Manchester says: “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but we’re both happier now.”

Chantelle was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) when she was just 14-years-old. It began as a small growth of blood vessels on her face, but as she got older it grew, leaving her disfigured.

Chantelle, 24, explains: “I had a large, red nose and was badly bullied. Kids at school called me Rudolph nose and my confidence suffered. But even though it looked bad, at that stage the doctors didn’t think it was fatal.”

Chantelle bravely got on with life but her confidence was at rock-bottom. Then, in 2007, she met fire-fighter Brett.

Chantelle says: “We met at a local pub. Brett pointed at something on my t-shirt, and when I looked down he poked me in the nose. I was mortified and assumed he was making fun of me.

“But when I explained he was shocked. He said he hadn’t even noticed my nose. I couldn’t believe I’d found someone who saw past my looks.”

A year later, when Chantelle was 19, the young couple married. Her condition was in remission, and the newlyweds settled happily into their lives together. But months later, doctors dropped the bombshell.

Her condition was more serious than they’d previously thought, and doctors needed to take drastic action. But there was a chance surgery would leave her severely disfigured.

Chantelle explains: “Without surgery I could die, but if they operated I’d be left with half a face. It wasn’t much of a choice. I’d only just got married, there was no way I wanted to risk leaving Brett a widower so soon, so I agreed to the surgery.”

Luckily doctors found a way to operate to remove the growth of blood vessels, and save her face. But it came at a price. The procedure meant Chantelle would look horribly disfigured for six months – and any knock to her nose could prove fatal.

She was subjected to cruel comments from strangers, who told her she was too ugly to be outside. It affected her badly, and she turned to Brett for support.

Chantelle says: “He always knew the right thing to say, and listened to me when I needed to talk. He was understanding and gave me confidence in myself.”

But the young couple’s love faced its biggest challenge yet, when in June 2010, doctors explained that Chantelle’s condition was so severe she wouldn’t be able to carry a child.

Chantelle recalls: “I was stunned. I knew some AVM sufferers couldn’t have children, but doctors had always told me it wouldn’t be an issue in my case.

“I’d known for a while it was a possibility, but they could never say for sure. Then, during a routine appointment, the doctor revealed my condition was too dangerous. I couldn’t have a baby.

“I was devastated, but I’d prepared myself for the worst. It was more of a surprise to Brett, who’d always tried to be so optimistic. He wasn’t ready for the news.

“We went home and tried to come to terms with the reality that we’d never have a family. I wanted to talk about it but Brett buried his head in the sand.

“I tried to broach the subject over the next few weeks but he refused to talk about how he was feeling.

After a few months Chantelle slowly got used to the idea that she’d never have her own child. She even started to think about adoption. Brett, though, wasn’t keen.

She says: “He explained that he wanted it to be his child, biologically. He wanted the whole experience, and didn’t want the child to turn around at some point and start asking for his real dad.

“He said he didn’t mind not having kids, and insisted I focus on my health.”

But shockingly, a few weeks later, in September 2010, Chantelle was attacked and punched in the face – because of the way she looked.

Chantelle recalls: “I was having a quiet drink with friends in my local pub, when a girl came up to me screaming ‘take your mask off.’ Then she punched me in the nose.

“Immediately my nose started pouring with blood, and I was rushed to hospital. I nearly died and was in hospital for weeks. I was used to the taunts and stares from strangers on the street, but this was something else.”

Afterwards, Chantelle suffered from depression and anxiety attacks, and couldn’t face going outside.

She adds: “I felt like giving up. I felt angry that after all the years of bullying I was scared to go outside. I thought strangers were going to attack me or that someone was following me.”

The stress even affected her marriage and Chantelle and Brett split temporarily. They reunited four months later, and her attacker, Rachel Rooney, was sentenced to eight months in prison in March 2011.

Although they got their relationship back on track, Chantelle remained very aware that Brett still longed for a child.

She says: “Some of his friends had kids, and I could see how happy he was playing with them. If we went to children’s parties he would tell me how depressing it was, because it just reminded him of what he couldn’t have.

“I knew he was unhappy, and I started worrying that one day he might resent me for not giving him children. He was approaching 30, and I could see he felt incomplete without a family.”

By June 2011, the couple’s fourth wedding anniversary, Chantelle was thinking about ending their marriage. She still loved Brett but the thought of him one day hating her for what she couldn’t give him was too much to bear.

She says: “I thought even if we settled for a life without kids now, there would be a time when he’d change his mind and it would be too late. I loved him so much, that I wanted him to have a better life. Even if it was without me.

“I was terrified, and especially scared of being alone. Brett had been there for me through everything and the prospect of being single was daunting. But I knew I couldn’t stay for those reasons.”

Four months later Chantelle mustered the courage to tell Brett she wanted to end their marriage.

Chantelle adds: “He told me I was being stupid, and he refused to talk about it. I realised I had to be firm.

“It was awful having a rational conversation about ending our marriage, as I never thought it would end like that. But once I told him it felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders.

“He didn’t say it, but I could tell Brett felt that way too. Eventually he accepted it was the right thing to do.”

A couple of weeks later she moved out, leaving their little dog behind.

She adds: “I knew he saw the dog like a child, and thought he needed someone to look after. There were times when I felt really lonely, and regretted my decision, but it wasn’t enough to make me go back.”

Four months later Chantelle was shocked to hear that Brett was in a new relationship – and was already expecting his first child.

Chantelle says: “Brett phoned me and told me he was having a baby. It was a huge surprise, and I was gutted at first. But it only confirmed that I made the right decision..

“We talked through it, and I told him I was happy for him.

“I’m seeing someone else now, and still hope to adopt one day. I do get jealous when my friends have babies, but I’m not ready yet.

Now, Chantelle and Brett remain firm friends and she’s happy that he’s got a new life.

Chantelle adds: “Dumping my husband so he could have a family with another woman was the hardest decision I’ve ever made – but I don’t regret it. I did it out of love.”

Brett, 29, says: “I always wanted children of my own. I’m an only child so I wanted a big family. When I found out Chantelle couldn’t have kids I accepted it because her life was the most important thing. When Chantelle suggested we split I was devastated. But I had to respect what she wanted. I understood where she was coming from. I think she felt guilty and I can see how much happier she is now. I hated losing her but I think both our lives are better.”

This week we’ve worked with two women, Louise Spicer and Jackie Ellis, who approached our feature writer Danielle Hoffman with one goal: to inspire other women.

Louise wanted to share her heartbreaking story about her pregnancy struggle to inspire other women not to give up. Jackie lost over seven stone, with her best friend Leanne, and is now a consultant for a Slimming World group, helping other women. She wanted to sell her story to the national press to give hope to other women battling to shed the pounds in time for Summer.

As newly-weds Louise, now 47, and husband Bernard, 64, tried desperately to have a baby, but without success. After Louise suffered an ectopic pregnancy and they spent thousands on IVF, the couple accepted they would remain childless. 17 years later, Louise made a shocking discovery – she was pregnant. A second baby followed and now, Louise is expecting twins

We sold Louise’s story to Bella magazine.

At a size 22 Jackie, 39, was desperate to slim down ahead of her beach holiday with her best friend, Leanne, a size 24. But Leanne, 42, was in denial and refused to diet until Jackie told her the harsh truth — that she’d look fat next to her newly slim figure. Leanne finally agreed and the pair lost four stone each for their holiday last year, and seven stone each by this year’s trip to Turkey.

We sold Jackie’s story to Real People magazine.

This week he has secured big exclusives in Closer and Best magazine, highlighting two important issues: child sexuality, and transsexualism.

After a year of dating, and a week after getting engaged, Measha, 25, made a shocking confession to her fiance – she’d been born a man. Her straight fiance, George, 25, was horrified and dumped Measha – but returned a week later, confessing his love for her. After five years of hormone treatment Measha’s planning to have her op so they can marry next year – and consummate their relationship.

Caked in make-up and plastered with spray-tan, brother and sister Braxton, six, and Alaska, nine, compete in pageants across the US. A heated sibling rivalry has developed between the pair. But mum Lori, 38, encourages them to battle each other for the biggest crowns. Despite being dubbed America’s worst mum after starring on ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ Lori says healthy competition is good and believes it will help her children to bond.

What do you think about these stories? Is Lori right to encourage her children to compete against each other? Is George and Measha’s story inspiring, or the ultimate betrayal?

If you’ve got a real life story to sell, fill in the form on the right and one of our writers will give you a call. You can also find our contact details here.

In a little over nine years Medavia has flourished to become one of the leading media companies in the UK. As the company has expanded and evolved, of all the values that we work to, honesty and integrity are the most fundamental to our business and have provided the bedrock of our success.

Ayla was large, Ben was wasting away. But on their wedding day they dared to picture a future together. Now they must face the truth Ben is dying. And Ayla is praying for a baby miracle.

Ayla, 24, and Ben married in 2007. A month later, Ben underwent a double transplant to correct a deadly heart defect.

Last month the couple were devastated to learn that Ben’s body has rejected his new heart and lungs, and he has just six months to live.

At 18st, Ayla now faces a race to lose nearly four stone to qualify for IVF and to give Ben a chance to become a dad before he dies.

Ayla approached Medavia to help her raise awareness of her story. We have placed her story in Love it! magazine, as well as the national newspapers to gain maximum coverage.

Also in the news this week

I jailed the ‘doctor’ who cured my cancer – Real People magazine

Lisa, 35, was devastated when a homeopathic doctor diagnosed her with cancer. But he said he had a cure and told her to undress. She was subjected to sick, invasive exams before he said she was cured. But later, a second opinion revealed she didn’t have cancer. Distraught, Lisa realised she?d been tricked and sexually assaulted. Last month, her doctor was found guilty of nine sexual offences and two fraud charges.

This week, her story appears in Real People magazine. We also secured her a deal with Reveal magazine.