Former TOWIE star James Argent has come under intense criticism after it was revealed he paid a mere £250 in compensation to his ex-girlfriend Nicoline Arthursson, whom he was convicted of assaulting in a disturbing domestic violence incident in Spain.
The 37-year-old reality TV personality received a six-month suspended jail sentence and a two-year restraining order earlier this month, following a violent altercation in May at their Costa del Sol home, where he pushed Nicoline—Miss Sweden 2018—down a set of steps.
Court documents confirmed that Nicoline suffered bruises and abrasions to her neck, arms, hand, and leg. The report states James “grabbed her tightly by the arm and pushed her with the intention of causing harm.”
Despite the severity of the incident and James’ reported £5,000-a-week income, he was only required to pay £250 in damages, a figure that has been slammed as shockingly low.
Eyewitnesses told reporters they saw James “yelling aggressively,” throwing Nicoline’s belongings from a balcony, and then forcibly removing her from the home before pushing her down concrete steps. Neighbours rushed to help as she cried out in pain, and James fled the scene before being arrested later that night.
Nicoline required hospital treatment, while James was detained overnight and taken to court in Fuengirola. He later admitted to domestic abuse and avoided prison through a plea deal by accepting a lesser charge of mistreatment.
As part of his sentence, James must attend a 10-week rehabilitation course for domestic abusers, which includes listening to survivors’ testimonies and learning about non-toxic masculinity.
Shockingly, just days after the sentencing, James returned to the stage at a local venue owned by friend and fellow TOWIE alum Elliot Wright. He was seen smiling, singing, and dancing, sharing clips of himself on Instagram as if nothing had happened.
While James insists he remains sober and has not relapsed, his actions have sparked outrage. Critics call the punishment far too lenient for an incident that could have resulted in far worse injuries.
Though James has publicly battled drug addiction, obesity, and mental health issues, many argue that accountability must come first.
