The mother of model Chloe Ayling has insisted that she’s telling the truth about being kidnapped in Italy.
The London-based model told Italian police that she was kidnapped, drugged and transported in a duffer bag from Milan to Turin.
The 20-year-old was accused of making the story up for publicity.
Her mother Beata is standing by her side, however. She insists that her daughter’s claims are genuine and this is not some “publicity stunt”.
“People are making up lies about my daughter. She is recovering now after what has happened. It has been terrible for her,” Beata told the Evening Standard.
“It will all come out when she is ready to speak out against these lies. She has had a terrible few weeks. As her mother, I was very worried and just want her to recover so she can speak out against the lies.”
Chloe claims to have met a photographer Lukasz Herba, who had convinced her to do a photo shoot. The shoot in question was allegedly a ruse to abduct the model.
She claims that at least two men took her and tried to sell her as a sex slave, to a web group called Black Death; said group allegedly profit from human trafficking.
She says she was held captive in a farmhouse for six days. When one of the capturers realised they had taken the wrong woman, Chloe was freed and taken to British Consulate in Milan, by Herba. She also claimed that Herba let her go because she’s a mother, and her child needed her.
She says the kidnappers demanded a ransom of £270,000 from her agent, but eventually dropped it and agreed to accept £50,000. The ransom was not paid.
Herba is currently being held in custody by Italian police. However, her former agent, Carla Bellucci, remains dubious about the whole incident.
“As a friend, I want to believe her. I was supposed to see her yesterday, but she’s signed with a new celebrity agency and they’ve told her not to talk to me. I’ve heard they’re trying to get a £20,000 photoshoot deal,” she said.
“Chloe’s always been looking for fame. I just hope she hasn’t been misled by someone over this, as she’s so trusting. Chloe’s always been looking for fame."
The 20-year old has since signed up with agent Kurger Cowne, who also represents Elle McPherson and Lilly Cole.
