A WOMAN at the centre of a love triangle has spoken of her devastation after her ex-partner stabbed her new lover to death.
Michael James, 45, was jailed for 14 years last week after taking the life of Bradley Hollis, 35.
Hollis was in a relationship with Zara Tolley, who had called off her wedding with James to be with her new love.
Speaking for the first time, Zara revealed James snapped after discovering she and Bradley were in love.
Mum of four Zara, 41, says: “Bradley was the love of my life. He died in front of me, and I will never get over that.
“Michael never wanted me when we were together, it was only after I found love with Bradley that he became jealous and he wanted me back. I have to live with the knowledge that falling in love with me cost Bradley his life.
“My youngest son said: ‘If Bradley died because he loved Mommy, would Daddy kill me too, because I love Mommy?’ It’s heartbreaking.”
Zara met Michael James over Halloween 2014 through mutual friends.
She says: “Our relationship moved quickly. Michael was the first man I introduced to my two children, since splitting with their dad in 2009.
“He was really helpful round the house; he couldn’t do enough. He wallpapered my stairway. Our relationship was a slow burner, but I grew to love him.”
The couple went on to have two children together. But Zara quickly became unhappy.
She says: “Michael became friendly with my ex-partner and would always take his side against me. He was very angry all the time, and he’d take it out on me.
“If someone made a comment he didn’t like, I got the blame, and he was violent. I forgave him because I wanted us to be a family and I thought it was the right thing to do for our children.
“After our youngest son was born in August 2020, the midwife said to us: ‘So, will you two be together forever now?’ and as I replied: ‘Yes’, Michael said: ‘No.’
“It was humiliating. I felt so unloved. We rarely had sex, and when we went away, he’d book a separate room for himself. He didn’t seem to like me or love me and there were rumours of other women.”
At the end of 2023, the couple agreed to get married.
Zara says: “I hoped getting married might give us a fresh start. I wanted a settled family for the kids.”
Their wedding was booked at a hotel for August 2024. But over Christmas 2023, through friends, Zara met Bradley Hollis.
She says: “At first, we were all friends, Michael, Bradley and me. Bradley was looking for a new place so he stayed at Michael’s flat, which was empty.
“Bradley saw how Michael was with me, he witnessed the aggression and the horrible things he said. Michael would tell people he didn’t want to marry me.
“Bradley and me became good friends; he was my shoulder to cry on. We shared a love of wildlife and nature, and he made me laugh. He was very sweet.
“I had feelings for Bradley, and I sensed he felt the same, but we did nothing.”
In April 2024, after a night out, the couple slept together.
Zara says: “I handled things badly; I should have ended it with Michael first. But it happened, and I was in love with Bradley. I wanted to be with him.”
Zara told Michael their relationship was over, and she cancelled their wedding. She then started a relationship with Bradley.
Domestic abuse – how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone – including men – and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
She says: “I was worried how Michael would react. He didn’t want to move out even though we’d split up, and I’d started seeing Bradley.”
Bradley had to leave Michael’s flat and, whilst staying with friends, his mental health suffered. On a trip to Blackpool, he assaulted Zara, and she reported him to police.
She says: “I felt so angry that he’d let me down. He was very sorry, he promised it would never happen again. His mum had been stabbed to death a few years earlier and it affected him badly.
“As time went on, he worked on his behaviour, and showed me he had changed.
“I forgave him because he’d been through a lot, and I knew he loved me. We talked about a future together; we were going to get engaged in Paris and we wanted a baby. We had so many plans.
“We had eight-hour phone calls and never ran out of conversation. We stayed in hotels, or went camping together.”
But Michael was becoming increasingly jealous of Zara’s new happiness.
She says: “He didn’t want me whilst we were together; he was horrible to me. But now I’d found love, he didn’t like that either. All of a sudden, he wanted me back.”
James sent Zara threatening messages, including: I’m telling you now, if that w****r comes anywhere near my kids, I’ll kill you both. And don’t think I won’t because I will.”
One night in March this year, he attacked her, smashing a bottle of vodka over her head and punching her repeatedly.
Zara says: “Michael said he wanted me back and I told him I was in love with Bradley.
“I was on the phone to Bradley and Michael snatched the phone and wouldn’t give it back. Bradley heard everything, and he came to the house to rescue me. Michael left after the attack, but took my phone and locked me in.”
Bradley arrived at the house only moments after James had returned.
Zara says: “They started fighting in the dining room. Michael got a knife from the kitchen drawer, but I didn’t see him stab Bradley. I was trying to stand between them, to stop Michael stabbing him.
“Bradley sank back onto his heels, and I thought he was hurt from the punches. Michael looked right through me, his face was empty, and then he left. I will never forget that face.
“It was only when I lifted Bradley’s jacket that I saw the wound.”
With no phone, Zara ran into the street to scream for help. Neighbours tried to perform CPR but Bradley was declared dead by paramedics.
James was tracked by a phone and arrested hiding in a shed.
Last week, James was jailed for 14 years at Sheffield Crown Court after he was found guilty of manslaughter, along with a second charge of possessing a bladed article in a public place.
He admitted assaulting Zara and was given an indefinite restraining order.
Judge Reeds ruled that James was not fighting with the knife in order to defend himself, but was “using the knife to win the fight”.
He added: “You had it with you to use as a weapon if necessary, and you did use it.”
Police bodycam footage showed the moment James was arrested by officers in the middle of the night, found hiding in a shed.
Zara says: “I had to give evidence in court which was harrowing. Michael showed no remorse, he didn’t take responsibility for anything.
“The children have lost their father because of his actions, and they now fear he might hurt them too. I don’t know what he is capable of. We’re all living in fear. I hate him for what he did.
“I am haunted by that final image of Michael, the way he looked right through me after he’d killed Bradley. I believe he thought about killing me too in that moment.
“Bradley had made mistakes, but he was doing his best to address his problems and we were so happy together. I am just so sorry that falling in love with me has cost him his life.”
Zara is donating her fee to Pathwways Charity in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
