EMMERDALE star Lucy Pargeter is engaged to a big-time drugs gang member who she has visited in prison.
Lucy, 48, has been to see Elliott Walker, 54, who helped start one of the largest amphetamine factories ever busted in Britain.
She drove four hours from her Yorkshire home to HMP Hollesley Bay, Suffolk, and back — 500 miles in all — where Walker is doing six years.
Our picture shows her last weekend parking in the visitors’ car park of the 460-capacity Category D nick.
Lucy, who split from her former partner in 2019, had stated in a podcast that she was in an “exclusive new relationship”.
Last year, the mum of three, who has played Chas Dingle on ITV’s Emmerdale for 23 years, revealed in a personal Instagram video post that she was wearing a diamond engagement ring.
A source said: “Her relationship has been the talk of the prison because some other visitors obviously recognised Lucy the other day as she’s been on Emmerdale for ages.
“And Elliott has made no secret of telling other inmates she’s his fiancee.”
It is not known how and where Lucy met Walker, who is thought to be close to a release date.
Walker, from Kidbrooke, South East London, was locked up in 2021 after admitting conspiracy to supply amphetamine.w
He bought equipment for the drugs lab in Henley-in-Arden, Warks, which was smashed by the National Crime Agency.
It was said to be capable of producing 400kg of amphetamine — with an estimated street value of £10millon — every month.
Gang members had chemistry training in order to run the operation and the drugs were distributed in London, Kent and the West Midlands.
Another gang member got 18 years after admitting drug and money laundering offences.
Others were found guilty at trial.
Lucy, who came third on I’m A Celebrity in 2013, has told previously that she had breast implants removed as they hampered her breathing.
The Sun on Sunday has approached her for comment.