A 47-year-old bus driver has been called a ‘paedo’ after entering into a relationship with his friend’s 16-year-old daughter.
Andy, from North Wales, began dating Beth when she was 16. She’s now 19, and the couple have since married and had two children together.
Although they see themselves as just being like any other couple, not everybody has been accepting of the 28-year age gap. The couple have had abuse shouted at them, as well as obscene insults scrawled on their home and vehicles.
Andy and Beth – who first met through Beth’s mum – were eventually forced to leave Wales for a new life in Lancashire after the abuse became too much.
As reported by The Sun, Andy spoke of how he was treated like ‘some sort of animal’:
To say it was really dark days, I can’t stress to you enough – that’s mild,
They made me feel like I was some sort of animal because I’m going out with a younger girl.
No, I’m going out with a younger girl because this girl has asked me to go out with her which is a privilege to me and an honour to me to find someone that thinks that of me.
They have now had the chance to tell their side of the story through an episode of Channel 5 documentary series, Age Gap Love, which saw Andy and Beth return to Wales for a family holiday.
Beth was reportedly so anxious about returning to Wales she struggled to even get out of the car, however the couple do hope to move back at some point.
According to The Sun, Andy said he doesn’t want them to be treated any differently:
Forty years I’ve lived in Wales, my mum’s been here, my grandma’s been here,
Not to be where you were brought up where all your memories are and your family, it’s very tough, it doesn’t get any easier. It kills me inside all the time.
I don’t want to be treated any differently… we are Beth and Andy and that’s it, isn’t it?
Beth reportedly isn’t bothered by the 28-year gulf between herself and her husband, and was apparently drawn to Andy because she knew he would be the ‘perfect man’ to start a family with.
According to The Sun, Beth said:
I’ve always wanted to make a family… so I just thought Andy would be the perfect man to do so,
I don’t see him as an old man or my dad or anything like that.
This episode of Age Gap Love aired on Channel 5 in November 2018, and is now available to watch on My 5.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.