Kerry Katona: "I'm glad my ex George is dead – he could have killed me"

Kerry Katona cried as she told the Sunday People this week, she is delighted that her husband, George Kay, has died.

Kerry, 38, said the death of George, victim of a drug overdose three weeks ago, was tragic but inevitable.

She claimed that if her life had not been cut short, he would have killed her because their relationship was so toxic.

And she is relieved that their five-year-old daughter, Dylan-Jorge – known as the DJ – will not have to grow up in the face of her father's anger.

Kerry, 38, former vocalist of Atomic Kitten, said, "George could not be saved. He was always going to die.

"To be honest, it's almost a relief that he died when he died, when DJ reached that age.

"That way, DJ is saved from having to grow up witnessing all the psychotic episodes that he would have had. You have to remember the hell he made us go through.

Atomic Kitten singer, Kerry, who married the former rugby league player in 2014, did not leave him until a year later because of his violence and took a measure of restraint against him last year.

She said: "If it was not dead, it would be me.

"My mother said that she was waiting for the police call to tell me that he had killed me.

"And I know myself, I could never have relaxed, unless he's back in prison or dead.

"Now that he's dead, there is a sense of relief."

George, 38, died after eating cocaine at the Holiday Inn in Runcorn, Cheshire.

He had a long history of drug abuse and was battling mental health issues.

Remembering the icy moment when she learned that her third husband was dead, Kerry, a mother of five, said, "My cell phone rang and it was George's father.

"Suddenly, I felt this intense anxiety. I thought, either he mistakenly dialed me, or George has one. So the first thing I did was go home and tell the kids to lock the door.

"My first thought was that he was coming home to kidnap a DJ.

"Then his brother Ash sent me a message telling me to call him and suddenly I knew him. I knew George was dead.

Kerry's long-time manager then confirmed the news, leaving the star in tears inconsolable – and facing the devastating task of telling a five-year-old DJ and her other children, Molly, 17, Lily, 16, Heidi , 12 years old and Max, 11 years old.

"I just shouted," she says.

"I went straight home, asked my friend to bring a DJ to Morrisons and told the other kids what had happened.

"Max and Heidi threw themselves on the floor and Molly and Lily were shocked and upset.

"We were all petrified by George. We all knew that I was better without him. But he knew me better than anyone. It would make me feel as if I were safe.

"When DJ came back, I sat him down and told him," Dad got asleep, he did not wake up and he's in heaven, which means Dad's dead. "

"She came back from Morrisons with toys and she interested them more than I said. It was too much for her.

"Even now, if I try to talk to her, she covers her ears and tells me to" shit. "She faces it in her own way.

"His parents gave me a big bag of toys and cards that he had written before his death.

"I can not even get them out of the car. They have been in the trunk for three weeks. I can not bring myself to read them. "

After announcing the news to her family, she drove to her hometown of Warrington, Cheshire, to visit her mother Sue, her parents, and George's body.

George's chaotic life even came back to haunt her as she tried to go to the chapel of rest to see her body.

"I went to rent a car and I refused because George rented a car in my name and did not pay for it. L & # 39; irony! Typical George.

"Then I went directly to my mother's house and went to see him in the chapel of rest. I just shouted on his body.

"I shouted:" You dô head, what did you do? "

"He was lying down, smiling, and I asked him," Why did you do that to DJ? She is so beautiful? Why did you do it ?!

"I'm so mad at him. I'm furious that he can not leave that well enough. He loved her more than me or her daughter.

Kerry – who has had mental health problems and cocaine in the past – could not bring himself to attend the funeral.

But she is categorical, her husband did not commit suicide.

She said, "I do not know where this case of" cocaine use "comes from. But let me be clear – his death was accidental. George was too vain to kill himself.

The childhood lovers, Kerry and George, found their love after a chance meeting in 2012.

But his cocaine abuse quickly became a huge problem in their relationship.

"George was the nicest guy we could meet," Kerry said, trying to hold back her tears. "He would take care of my nan! But then he was a complete psychopath.

"He came home with hallucinations and had a knife while the children were there.

"He was stealing my credit card to buy gifts, and then threatened to stab me in the head. The police came to my home 22 times.

And George's jealousy was also uncontrollable.

Kerry said, "I once sat on the lap of Anthony Costa, the best man of my marriage, a man who looks like my brother.

"George called me and I had to sleep in the tub that night. Two black eyes are not rare. "

At their last meeting, 18 months ago, Kerry begged for a divorce, but he replied coldly, "You are my wife and you will always be my wife."

His guilt and shame on the nature of his death are clear.

But ultimately, Kerry's anger is saved for herself.

She said: "I have lived so much with my second husband, Mark Croft, but then, I managed and lived a good life – and then I met George, all bloody .

"I'm forever grateful to DJ, but I'm so, so angry.

"I will never get over it, but he can not hurt me anymore and I have to stop punishing myself."