After TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson was caught shoplifting five times in 16 days from Tesco’s we were tasked by The Mirror to examine what causes well-off people to steal.

Our intriguing report features Abigail, a mum-of-two, who went through a difficult period of her life when she got stuck in a violent and abusive relationship.

The troubles at home sparked a shoplifting spree that lasted four months and saw Abigail steal over 50 times, even when her baby boy was with her.

Unknown to her at the time, Abigail’s forays into the criminal world were a cry for help, a desperate plea for those around her to notice that she’d become trapped in a miserable existence with a controlling and bullying man.

With her self-worth at an all-time low, stealing became her means of escape.

“At first I stuck to small, independent shops and market stalls, which aren’t big on security,” she says. “I’d pick up bangles and put them on my wrist. I’d take most of them off, but not all, and walk away. Nobody ever noticed.

“The crazy thing was I couldn’t wear any of it at home because my boyfriend wouldn’t let me. So all my loot was stashed in my bottom drawer.”

She went on: “None of it was planned. Looking back now, I can’t believe that I put my son at risk. I was at rock bottom.”

With our experts analysis, our feature provides a fascinating insight into the psychology behind shoplifting.

To read more go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/17/what-is-it-that-drives-people-to-shoplift-items-they-don-t-need-115875-23703423/#ixzz1jhtcR8MH

Do you have a fascinating or shocking story to share? We are sensitive and professional writers who can help tell your story. To find out more visit us at www.firstfeatures.co.uk or call us in confidence on 07968 381 911.

This week First Features helped Nikkia Roberson share her story about her real-life Amityville Horror in Pick Me Up magazine.

Brave Nikkia, 20, from Georgia, USA, has had to come to terms with losing her little brother and sister at the hands of her own mother, Debra Roberson, 43.

Not a day goes by when Nikkia Roberson doesn’t think about her younger brother and sister – Melvin and Delvin.

With just a year between them the three children grew up together in Amityville, New York, and as Nikkia was the eldest, she was always the one who looked after the other two.

But then one day Debra, a schizophrenic and drug-addict, took Melvin and Delvin’s lives in a horrifying act of madness.

Since then Nikkia has not only learned how to live with the terrible loss of her siblings, but also accept her mother’s illness and even love the woman who murdered her brother and sister.

Now training to be a nurse, Nikkia has resolved to make the most of her life, in memory of her lost siblings.

First Features helped tell her courageous and inspiring story through Pick Me Up magazine and the story is also due to be published in the US.

* If you have an interesting, tragic, inspiring or heart-warming story to share ring Katy at First Features in confidence on 07968 381 911.

Though not often talked about, the level of violence and abuse among teenagers appears disturbingly high and with the help of the NSPCC and Women’s Aid First Features looks at the reasons behind the issue.

In our piece we tell the story of Tammy Warsop’s abusive relationship with an older man.

Tammy met her future husband Kevin Warsop, 41, when she was just 17.  It wasn’t long until Kevin’s possessive ways began to show and he started controlling the way Tammy dressed, who she spoke to and who she saw.

Kevin first assaulted Tammy when he was drunk. Despite Tammy’s mother warning her to leave him, Tammy accepted Kevin’s apology and they continued to date.  Tammy says: “I believed him and at that age I was very defiant and thought I knew best.” Sadly, the assault was not a one off and what developed was a relationship of terror, where Kevin used emotional and physical abuse to beat Tammy.

Despite this, Tammy married Kevin in 2005 when she was pregnant, but the beatings and torment didn’t stop. Kevin threatened Tammy that if she ever left him, he would not only kill her but also her family. She didn’t think she would ever escape.

Finally, Tammy sought the help of Women’s Aid, the police’s domestic abuse unit and social services and discovered a way out of her hellish marriage.

Unfortunately, Tammy’s story is just one example of abuse among teens. New research has shown that some even consider it normal.

Last week, the NSPCC released a report that showed violence in teenage relationships was actually higher than at first believed.

More than half the girls in the study, which focused on teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds, said they had experienced violence in at least one of their relationships. Sadly, more than half of the girls said they had been in sexually violent relationships before the age of 18.

Fiona Dwyer, national children and young people’s officer at Women’s Aid, believes the failure to recognise the abuse is the major problem among young adults. Fiona says: “Disclosing domestic abuse is difficult at any age but it’s made worse as teens tend not to trust people anyway.”

Chris Cloke, Head of Child Protection Awareness at the NSPCC says: “We want to put across a very clear message that nobody needs to be forced into having a relationship against their will and no one should have to put up with the violence.”

If you feel you are involved in an abusive relationship you can visit: http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk or www.thehideout.org.uk – a website run by Women’s Aid for young people affected by domestic violence. You can also visit www.womensaid.org.uk or call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 800 5000.  For under 16s call ChildLine on 0800 11 11. Men suffering domestic abuse can call the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327

Do you have a story you would like to share? We are friendly and sensitive writers who are used to handling stories which deal with difficult issues. We will guide you through the process to ensure you find it a positive and transparent experience. Contact us for confidential advice on 020 7703 8000 or email us at  info@firstfeatures.co.uk .

The pair married earlier this month after meeting on a romantic cruise three years ago, but despite being madly in love, they plan to live 3677 miles apart because neither can bear to leave their respective families.

Sarah will return to her normal life at home in Dorset, alone. And Tom, 58, will head home to ­Virginia, US, 3,677 miles away from his wife.

Even now, the couple have no immediate plans to live together.

Read about their amazing and unique love story here on The Mirror’s website: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/07/28/i-ve-married-the-love-of-my-life-but-we-live-3-677-miles-apart-115875-23301406/#ixzz1TaXjCxjB

Do you have an unusual love story? We’re always on the lookout for quirky and fun love tales so do get in touch in confidence and let us know all about how you hooked up with your soulmate. Call us on 020 7703 8000 or email info@firstfeatures.co.uk

I would like to tackle this issue head-on since I have always been proud to be a journalist and while nothing can defend the appalling actions of those involved in the scandal, I would not wish for our whole profession to be tarred with the same brush.

The fact is – most journalists are decent, hard-working people with principles and moral purpose.

Further, it must never be forgotten that the hacking crimes themselves were brought to light not by the police, the politicians or judiciary but thanks to the dogged determination of reporters at The Guardian newspaper.

I myself took an ethical stance when I resigned from The Sun newspaper in March 2003 over their support for Blair’s Iraq war.

Explaining my actions in an article for The Guardian, I wrote at the time: “In the run up to the war I was increasingly uneasy at the gung-ho stance taken by the Sun for what I saw as an American-led war of retribution, whose moral basis was questionable at best. It was obvious to me and everyone I knew that this was pay-back time for the Americans and a nifty way to sew up the Middle East. But the Sun was locked in to supporting the Murdoch line and no one was going to challenge that.”

Back then, my actions caused shock among red-top colleagues and many sarcastically commended me for committing what they saw as ‘career suicide’ but in my mind I had no choice but to follow my principles.

In the years since then we have learned the truth – there were no WMD’s, Parliament and the people were lied to while whistleblowers like David Kelly were hounded to their deaths. Meanwhile, no amount of inquiries will ever bring back the war dead.

I have bumped into several ex-Sun colleagues since then who have all said the same thing: “Funny that – it turns out you were right about the war.”

I don’t find it funny. I don’t find it funny at all. I just wish more people had had the guts back then to stand up when we all knew the war was wrong and Murdoch was wrong for supporting it in his newspapers.

The trouble was – he was too powerful. All the executives at News International were too powerful and journalists, like so many politicians, felt helpless to object to the political line, even when so many of us knew that it was wrong.

Today, we’re looking at a whole new media and political landscape – one in which perhaps no person will ever be allowed to become as powerful as Murdoch again.

But this doesn’t let any of us off the hook.

As the public reassess their relationship with the media, we are all encumbered more than ever to examine our consciences and ask not just, are we abiding by the spirit of the Editor’s Code of Practice, but are we upholding the best moral and ethical principles we can as individuals?

Leaving The Sun was the best thing I ever did for several reasons – firstly, it gave me the courage to be bold where others were afraid. Secondly, it reaffirmed my belief in doing the right thing, whatever the consequences, and thirdly, it inspired me to start First Features in order to represent the public to the press in the best way possible.

One of the first paragraphs I ever wrote for my website, which can still be seen today on the About Us page reads: “In her time on Fleet Street, she [Katy] came to recognise that frequently, those with a good story failed to get the best deal. Handling interest from national publications is not the easiest thing. In a fiercely competitive market, many people without press know-how find their experience leaves them feeling used or misrepresented.”

I’d seen first-hand how members of the public weren’t always given the respect they deserved through their encounters with large media organizations and I was determined to offer them an alternative, a means of dealing with the media that afforded them sensitivity and dignity.

Stories were never commodities to me, to be bought or sold, but the precious and fragile truths of a person’s life. Every one that crossed my path had to be treated with the utmost care.

Today we run First Features Ltd according to our own strict moral standards, above and beyond those laid down in the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. That is how First Features has become a successful and trusted supplier of gold-standard stories to the press in the last six years.

Each week we turn down stories if we believe the aggregate result of telling that story would be harmful – and in the same vein, we turn down requests from the media if we believe the resultant publicity would be damaging.

Frequently we talk people out of trying to sell their stories by pointing out to them the likely consequences they may not have considered and in cases where we simply believe there is good to be gained from publicity, whatever the the gain to ourselves, we push like mad to get a person’s voice heard.

These past two weeks represent a true turning point in our political, economic and journalistic worlds and I welcome a new era in which each and every journalist is forced to consult their own conscience before blindly following an editor down an immoral, or criminal, path.

In doing so, I hope it will help to usher in an age where the question – who can you trust in the media? – can be confidently answered with the phrase, every one.

Katy Weitz, Founder of First Features Ltd

To contact First Features call 020 7703 8000 or email info@firstfeatures.co.uk

To read Katy’s article from The Guardian in 2003 visit http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2003/mar/31/mondaymediasection2

Sharon was abused from the age of three by her own father, William Holder, who even paid her 50p to keep his sickening acts a secret.

It went on for ten long years but the mental and emotional scars have haunted Sharon for a lifetime.

For decades, she kept her vile Dad’s secret but finally, after years of illness and sorrow, she realised she could no longer hide the truth.

She reported him to the police over 40 years after the abuse began, and last year saw her Dad, now 74, jailed for 12 years.

It was the end of a long road to justice for Sharon, now 49, who wanted to share her heart-breaking story in a bid to help other victims of abuse come forward.

When Sharon first approached First Features Ltd, we were appalled by what she suffered as a little girl but felt that her bravery in facing her abuser so many years after the attacks ended simply had to be told.

We helped Sharon sell her story to Chat magazine and tell it in exactly the way she wanted.

Today Sharon says: “It was really important for me to tell the world what my Dad had done to me and I hope that if one other person reads it and is inspired to report a paedophile then it will all be worth it. For a long time I was victim but not anymore. What that sick monster did to me held me hostage all my life. Now, I’m finally free.”

Do you have a harrowing story to share? We are friendly and sensitive writers who are used to handling stories which deal with difficult issues and will guide you through the process to ensure you find it a positive and transparent experience. Contact us for confidential advice on 020 7703 8000 or email us at  info@firstfeatures.co.uk .

Like many women, Cheryl’s changing locks have mirrored the ups and downs in her life. This is particularly true for FF clients Pauline Morgan, 54, and Heather Bliss, 47, who were both happy to share with Mirror readers their own hair-dos and don’ts over the years.

In a two page special both women were featured over the years with a multitude of different styles and colours – some more successful than others.

When Pauline went through her divorce, she dyed her hair bright red and Heather, after losing weight, felt confident enough to cut her hair shorter

Pauline still regrets her very short boyish haircut when she was 43 and Heather used to get called “bracken” because of her thick hair.

Have you got a hair-raising story to tell? We’d love to hear from you! Simply call us on 020 7703 8000 or email info@firstfeatures.co.uk

When Alex, 23, from East Yorkshire first contacted us about her incredible tale of love on the runway, we felt our hearts soar!

Alex had previously split up from boyfriend Peter, 28, after a disastrous holiday to Cyprus together last August. By the time they hit the tarmac back in the UK, their relationship was in pieces.

A few months later, Alex was due to take another holiday, this time to Spain with her mum. But when she got to the airport she was horrified to find her ex Peter was also there. Thinking she could escape him, she hurried to her gate, only to find he was there too. The final, unbelievable coincidence occurred when she boarded the plane to take her seat – only to find she was sat right next to Peter! Yet as the plane took off, they started chatting and before it touched down in Spain, they were reunited.

 “I’m so happy with the way the story turned out”, says Alex. “First Features made sure it got told exactly how I wanted it to and I’m really pleased with the result.”

Have you got an amazing love story? We’d love to hear from you. Give us a call in confidence on 0207 703 8000 or email us at info@firstfeatures.co.uk. We’ll give you a quick and honest answer!

Tina has worked alongside First Features editor Katy Weitz for the past year to turn the dream of publishing her real story into a reality. Tina says: “If it wasn’t for Katy I wouldn’t be able to tell the world what I went through and I wouldn’t be where I am now. For the first time in my life I can finally say that my past is behind me and I can look to the future.”

Go to Amazon to get your copy of Daddy’s Little Secret, published by Ebury priced £6.99.

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daddys-Little-Secret-Pregnant-there%C2%92s/dp/0091941008

First Features  helped client Tina Davis turn the true story of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepdad  into a book, due out on June 9.

Daddy’s Little Secret, published by Ebury Press, is Tina’s real story in her own words about how she gave birth to stepdad Charlie’s four kids.

Eventually, after the death of her little boy, she found the strength to leave Charlie and report him to the police.

Here she gives an exclusive interview with FF editor Katy Weitz about seeing her life turned into a book:

KW: Hello Tina. Thanks for talking to me today. We’ve worked together on your book now for about a year. What’s it like to hold the finished result in your hands?

TD: I’ve got mixed emotions. I’m really excited of course.  After everything we’ve been through it’s amazing to see the actual book in print but I’m also nervous because now it’s not just me that’s reading it, it’s a lot of other people. There are things in my book which I’d never told anyone before we talked about them, things that nobody knows. My friend Tricia is a psychic and she told me years ago that I’d write a book one day but I never really believed her. To see it done today is amazing.

Q We’re calling you Tina here but that’s not your real name. Can you explain why we’re not using your real name?

TD: All I can say is that it’s for legal reasons to do with protecting the children. If people saw my real name they could automatically tell who the children were. I didn’t have any choice in this matter I’m afraid. If it was my decision I would have my real name because I don’t want to hide any more. I’m not ashamed of what happened to me, I’m proud that I survived it and am here to let people know the abuse and horror that can happen right under their noses. Telling my story is very important in taking back the freedom that Charlie stole from me for all those years.

KW: How did you find the process of writing Daddy’s Little Secret?

TD: It was hard because it meant talking about so many things that I’ve never talked about. But at the same time it was like therapy.  When all this went through the courts, I was denied counselling because they thought talking about the abuse would make it harder to cope with the children. And I believed them. So doing the book was a great release for me, it was my way of being able to talk and get off my chest everything I’ve ever held in. After every session I felt great. The difficult part was reading the chapters once they were down on paper. Even now I find it difficult to read the book – I’ve lived every part of it so going over the details just brings it all flooding back. However, going through the process has definitely made me stronger and it’s a relief to know it’s all in the book. Now anybody can read it without me having to explain it all again. The kids want to read it and in time I might let them but not now – they’re too young.

KW: Many people will find the events in Daddy’s Little Secret shocking. Does it still shock you?

TD: It’s too much to take in. You hear about these things on the news, on the TV or radio but you don’t imagine it happening to someone you know or one of the mums you meet at the school gates. That’s why I don’t usually tell people about my past until I’ve got to know them very well. I worry some of my friends will be shocked when they learn the true extent of the abuse but as I said I’ve got nothing to hide. It was severe but sadly I can’t change it and I’m not going to hold back from telling the truth just because people might find it shocking.

KW: Given the terrible things that happened to you so early in your life, how do you maintain a happy and positive outlook for the future? Or even in your day-to-day life?

TD:  It is hard and it’s something that is going to take a long time to achieve. From the moment I wake up in the morning to the time I go to bed, all I know and all I’ve lived is what I’ve been through. I look at the kids and they are a constant reminder of who their dad is. Other people tell you about their past and their experiences and I look backwards and I see abuse, day after day after day. So staying positive can sometimes feel like a struggle. I also worry for the future. One day Charlie will be out and free and when the kids reach 16 what happens then? What if he ever got into their lives? Sure, everything is fine now but it’s always in the back of my mind knowing everything could change one day. My answer is to just live one day at a time.

KW: You have come so far since leaving Charlie. You’ve started a new life in a new part of the country and have recently become engaged. What’s next?

TD: I’ve got a lot of things I want to do, not least just enjoying being a mum to the kids. Now that we are free I’m enjoying being the mum I want to be and leaning about them. And one day I’d like to write another book. There’s so much more to say that I can’t right now. I know this sound strange but loads more happened after Charlie was put away, stuff I can’t talk about at the moment. One day it will all come out.

* To get your copy of Daddy’s Little Secret priced £6.99 from Ebury Press go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daddys-Little-Secret-Pregnant-there%C2%92s/dp/0091941008/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306918174&sr=1-1