A FORMER Love Island contestant threatened to ‘put a bullet’ in the back of the head of the woman he was having an affair with during a row. 

Marcus Privett, 30, of Devonshire Close, Grays, was having an affair with the victim between September 2021 and April 2023.

The relationship was described as ‘toxic’ culminating in an incident in which Privett threatened to ‘put a bullet’ in the back of the victim’s head.

Privett sent abusive messages to the woman and things came to a head on April 5 when he threatened to shoot her and take his own life.

He was arrested the next morning and appeared in Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, October 12,  for sentencing.

S. Ward, prosecuting, said: “The defendant also said words to the effect of ‘I am not taking my life unless I put yours out first.’

“At the time of the incident, Mr Privett was in a longtime relationship with another woman and wanted to keep his affair with the victim a secret.

“He was also taking steroids at the time.”

The victim’s car was also damaged following an argument causing damage worth £720 to the vehicle.

Privett appeared on one episode of Love Island in 2016 as one of the potential options the ladies got to choose to join the villa.

A victim personal statement was read out to the court highlighting the impact of the incident.

It read: “Marcus may have spent six months on remand but I’m serving a life sentence because of his actions.

“He told me I can run but can’t hide and said he’d make it his life’s mission to destroy me.

“I honestly believe he’ll kill me, he’s a vindictive master manipulator who has brainwashed myself and other girls.”

Jonathan Mole, mitigating, highlighted Privett’s struggles with mental health when explaining his behaviour.

He said: “Mr Privett has been struggling with his mental health and only took steroids for a bodybuilding competition, since then he has gone cold turkey.

“The emotions caused by steroid use were unpleasant and didn’t help with his rational thinking.

“He also has dyslexia and Irlen’s Syndrome and struggled with seeing his father in the Caribbean who has Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.”

Judge Shane Collery handed Privett a 16-month sentence suspended for two years.

He was also given a ten-year restraining order and required to complete a one-month accredited programme, 40 days of rehabilitation activity and 100 hours unpaid work.