James Argent has broken his silence after he was charged with domestic violence by addressing speculation he’s relapsed.

The former TOWIE star, 37, was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order against ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson, 32, after shoving the beauty queen during a violent row in Spain.

Fans have questioned whether James’s behaviour was sparked by a return to his wild drug and alcohol abusing days, which saw the reality favourite spend several stints in rehab.

But speaking exclusively to MailOnline, James confirmed he is still sober and the police incident was not triggered by a relapse.

James said: ‘I haven’t relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober. I am devastated by what’s happened.’

On Tuesday night it was revealed that James pushed his girlfriend of nine months down steps outside her apartment on the Costa del Sol, which resulted in him admitting a charge of domestic violence.

James Argent has broken his silence after he was charged with domestic violence by addressing speculation he’s relapsed

The former TOWIE star was handed a six-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year restraining order against ex-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson

James told MailOnline: ‘I haven’t relapsed. I am still three years and four months clean and sober. I am devastated by what’s happened’

James, who over the years has struggled with weight issues and cocaine addiction, has previously suffered two near-fatal drug overdoses as he battled against his demons.

But the Essex star has been alcohol and drug free since 2022, prioritising rehabilitation, clean living and maintaining a healthy weight after having gastric band surgery.

He has spoken in the past about struggling with the pitfalls of fame, including loneliness, shame amid his eating disorder, and being thrust into the public light after starring on reality series TOWIE.

During a 2020 interview, James discussed how his drug addiction started, saying: ‘I was going to nightclubs around the age of 18…

‘I would hear of some of my friends experimenting with drugs, but it wasn’t until I first started TOWIE that I was getting booked up for nightclub appearances up and down the country most nights of the week, I was drinking, and I started doing drugs more and more.

‘My friends and family recognised that I was having a problem and an addiction about a year and a half into TOWIE.’

He also shared how his romantic relationships have suffered in the past as a result of his addiction, including with ex-girlfriend and former TOWIE co-star Lydia Bright.

James said: ‘When Lydia broke up with me it was a shock and the pain I was going through with the heartbreak, I started using drugs heavily to escape the feelings and the pain as well as with the insecurities with how I looked on television.’

Nicoline was pictured for the first time on Wednesday since James was charged with domestic violence

The singer had been in a relationship with model Nicoline for nine months before the violent incident occurred over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

On Wednesday, Nicoline was pictured for the first time since James was charged with domestic violence.

She was seen wearing a white T-shirt and sunglasses while looking down at her phone just hours after news of James’s arrest broke.

The sighting came after an eyewitness told MailOnline that James was heard ‘yelling’ before forcing the former Miss Sweden out of her apartment door in Spain, which caused her to fall down some steps.

James pleaded guilty to charges of domestic violence and has been handed a two year restraining order meaning he will be jailed if he contacts Nicoline, who onlookers claimed looked ‘severely hurt’ following the attack.

The witness, who did not want to be named, told of how they heard a loud commotion from the Costa del Sol property, which James shared with Nicoline, and has now recalled watching the ‘brutal’ row unfold.

They said: ‘We were out walking our dogs when we suddenly heard an aggressive man yelling. We saw him throwing objects from the terrace of a nearby house. We were frightened by his shouts.

‘Then, the door of the house opened, and the man threw a women out and she fell down the steps, causing her to scream. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. She was severely hurt and cried out for help.’

The sighting comes as an eyewitness claimed to MailOnline that Argent was heard ‘yelling’ before forcing Artursson out of the door, which caused her to fall down some steps as he ‘threw objects at her’

The model was spotted for the first time since the arrest on Wednesday, wearing gym clothing as she typed away on her phone

It’s understood that James ‘continued to throw things’ as Nicoline ‘lay injured’ on the steps.

The eyewitness continued: ‘The situation escalated quickly, and we were scared and unsure of what to do. Another woman arrived to assist the injured woman, who was lying helplessly at the foot of the steps. At that moment, the man slammed the door and fled.

‘Within moments, concerned bystanders had gathered to help the woman, and the police arrived swiftly.’

The witness said Nicoline ‘appeared to be physically and emotionally devastated.’

‘We were in utter shock,’ they continued, adding that they were later told Nicoline’s mother had arrived and taken her to hospital.

‘This woman deserves justice; she was left utterly devastated. We have never seen anyone so emotionally hurt as she was.

‘What we witnessed was a brutal act of abuse… there were many witnesses and bystanders who helped Nicoline during the incident.’

Just days before the incident Argent and Artursson were pictured looking happy on the beach (picured May 2)

She was joined by her mother Pernille Artursson, who has been supporting her since the incident with her ex Argent

Arthursson wore a white T-shirt with a pair of black leggings and trainers

After tumbling down two steps, Artursson’s screams alerted neighbours to the incident, who then informed the police. She is understood to have needed hospital treatment.

Argent was arrested shortly after the incident in La Cala de Mijas and was kept in police cells for several hours before being dragged in front of a court in nearby Fuengirola.

During the hearing he admitted a domestic violence charge, with an insider telling The Sun the couple’s nine-month relationship is now over. He was handed a two-year restraining order which prohibits him from being within 250 metres of Artursson.

Artursson was in court to hear Argent admit the charge where he was handed a six-month suspended sentence. Argent was also told to a complete a ‘resocialisation course in the field of gender violence’.

Artursson has remained in Spain, while Argent is believed to have flown back to Essex.

The model was spotted for the first time since the arrest on Wednesday, wearing gym clothing as she typed away on her phone.

She was joined by her mother Pernille Artursson, who has been supporting her since the incident with her ex Argent.

Artursson covered her face with a pair of large sunglasses during their outing.

Speaking about how Argent is now, a friend told the Sun he is ‘extremely sorry’, saying: ‘He said he had a row with Nicoline and that he tried to end the argument.

‘James said he pushed Nicoline and that she fell. He is remorseful about what happened but is insisting he never meant any harm.’

Artursson was busy typing on her phone when she was pictured

It was a very different picture for the couple just days before the row, as Argent was seen looking smitten as he sunbathed on the beach with Artursson on May 2.

Reports had emerged he was ‘planning to take the relationship to the next level’ with the former Miss Sweden – nine months after meeting in a supermarket.

The reality star was said to have ‘never been happier’ after overcoming challenges with insiders saying two weeks ago that the model ‘loves him for who he is’.

‘He’s totally smitten. He’s definitely looking to pop the question and start their future together,’ a source told OK! Magazine earlier this month.

‘He has absolutely no doubt that she is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, they are absolutely soulmates, there’s no question about it.’

But now, Argent has been warned he will be put behind bars if he tries to contact Artursson in the next two years.

He was spared jail after striking a plea bargain deal with public prosecutors ahead of his May 5 trial at Fuengirola’s Court of Violence Against Women.

Police and court officials have not offered any detailed information about Argent’s reported physical assault, although the Spanish Civil Guard whose officers took Argent to court in custody has confirmed local police employed by Mijas Town Hall arrested him on May 5.

She was joined by her mother (pictured) who accompanied her to the hospital

Argent is not permitted to contact Artursson for two years

Andalucia’s High Court of Justice confirmed the suspended prison sentence and two-year restraining order as officials warned any violation of the strict conditions Argent agreed to abide by as part of his plea agreement would land him in jail.

He is understood to have taken the decision to admit his crime after being told he could face a more serious charge carrying a prison sentence of up to five years if he denied wrongdoing and forced a full trial which would have been held in open court and rescheduled for a later date.

Andalucia’s High Court of Justice said: ‘The matter was resolved in Fuengirola’s Court of Violence Against Women. There was a plea agreement on May 5 and a trial the same day.

‘In trials of this kind it is the prosecutor who suggests a conviction after negotiating with the defence. It implies that the defendant acknowledges the facts and admits the penalty.

‘The judgment is now final having been accepted. It consists of a sentence of six months in prison for the commission of a crime of mistreatment in the ambit of gender violence. It also implies a prohibition on approaching and communicating with the victim for a period of two years.

‘The convicted person will not enter prison as he had no criminal record in Spain.

‘For this reason, the sentence is suspended but on condition that, over a period of two years he does not approach or communicate with the victim and has to carry out a re-socialization course in the field of gender violence.

‘The suspension would be revoked if it fails to comply with the measures imposed. The sentence will be sent to a criminal court that will be responsible for its execution and compliance with the measures implicit therein.’

Prison sentences of two years or less are normally suspended for first-time offenders in Spain. It is not clear if Argent has been ordered to pay his victim any compensation.

Argent confirmed their relationship last September, telling OK! magazine in their first interview together last November they were living together and were already looking ahead to starting a family together.

He gushed at the time: ‘Nicoline is absolutely beautiful. She’s a combination of Julia Roberts and Claudia Schiffer.’

She said: ‘James is so kind, funny and handsome. He’s a gentleman.’

Reliving the moment they met for the first time as Argent walked to a gig at Olivia’s La Cala, he said ‘All of a sudden I see this woman coming towards me. I was like, ‘Wow, she’s beautiful.’ She was just in her gym clothes, wearing no make-up. She’d actually just fed a stray cat.

‘We both smiled and kind of giggled at each other. And Nicoline carried on walking. Then I thought, ‘What have I got to lose?’ So I turned around and said, ‘Hey’.

‘Someone as beautiful as Nicoline, sometimes these sort of people are used to guys trying to talk to them and they’re not interested. But she was so friendly and made me comfortable.’