Joe Westerman Remarries Months After Sex Scandal Ended His Nine-Year Marriage

Former England international rugby league player Joe Westerman has married estate agent Alison Hopkinson, months after a public scandal led to the breakdown of his nine-year marriage to Lauren Westerman.

The couple exchanged vows at an intimate ceremony in Scarborough on Monday, attended by family and friends. Westerman, 36, wore a beige suit, while Hopkinson, 37, chose an A-line wedding dress with a short train.

Westerman shared photographs from the occasion on Instagram, writing: “A day we will never forget. Thank you to everyone who made it so special. Here’s to our forever. The Westermans.”

Wedding Follows Lauren’s Marriage to Karl Holmes

The ceremony took place just weeks after Westerman’s former wife married Karl Holmes, an HGV mechanic.

Lauren shared photographs from her wedding on Facebook, expressing her happiness at beginning a new chapter with her husband.

“Someone once told me that you’ll only ever be happy in life if you marry your best friend and I feel so lucky to be doing just that,” she wrote.

She also thanked those who attended the celebrations, describing it as the best day of their lives.

A family friend told the Daily Mail that Lauren had rebuilt her life following the highly publicised end of her marriage to the former rugby international.

The friend said Lauren had been deeply embarrassed by the incident that brought her marriage to an end, particularly because of the circulation of footage on social media. The friend also expressed concern for the couple’s eldest daughter, who was at secondary school when the video emerged.

The source added that Holmes, who had experienced difficult periods in his own life, was helping Lauren regain confidence and trust.

Holmes Proposed During Gran Canaria Trip

Lauren and Holmes made their relationship public in August 2023, approximately six months after the incident involving Westerman.

Holmes proposed to Lauren during a trip to Gran Canaria in April. He has since shared messages on social media praising his wife and expressing his support for her.

In one Facebook post, he described Lauren as “truly one in a million” and said she supported him regardless of the ideas he came up with.

During the wedding reception, Holmes reportedly became emotional while speaking about his new wife.

“I would never, ever change anything of her. She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and I will stick by her,” he told guests.

Viral Video Led to End of Westerman’s First Marriage

Westerman’s first marriage collapsed after footage circulated online showing him performing a sexual act with a woman in an alley behind a Greggs bakery following a night out drinking.

The woman involved was never publicly identified, although Lauren said she was the wife of a friend.

The incident generated widespread attention and also prompted disciplinary action from Westerman’s Super League club, Castleford Tigers.

Lauren, a primary school teacher and mother of three, publicly expressed her anger and humiliation after the video circulated. She said her teenage daughter had been shown the seven-second clip by friends.

She asked Westerman to leave the family home and began divorce proceedings, bringing their nine-year marriage to an end.

Westerman Apologised and Blamed Alcohol-Related Decisions

Following the incident, Westerman issued an apology and attributed his actions to poor decision-making involving alcohol.

In messages sent to Lauren, he said he was unable to remember what had happened that night and expressed regret over the consequences for his family.

“Words will never ever explain how sorry I am. I can’t explain what happened cos I physically can’t remember,” he wrote, adding that losing Lauren and the children was heartbreaking.

He also acknowledged that Lauren had previously warned him about the effects of alcohol.

However, Lauren said the apology did not change her decision to end the marriage. She stated that she would not take him back and said she needed to focus on her children and their future.

Lauren Said She Wanted to Set an Example for Her Children

Lauren explained that reconciling with Westerman would send the wrong message to their children, particularly their daughters, about acceptable behaviour in a relationship.

“What kind of example would I be setting to my children – particularly my girls – if I were to give it another go?” she said.

She added that she wanted her children to understand the importance of self-worth and that such behaviour was unacceptable within a relationship.

Lauren also said she was relieved the incident had come to light, explaining that Westerman had only told her about it after the footage appeared on social media.

Castleford Tigers Disciplined Westerman

The scandal also affected Westerman’s professional career. Castleford Tigers fined the player and required him to undertake community service as punishment for the incident.

Westerman’s subsequent marriage to Hopkinson marks a new chapter in his personal life, while Lauren has also married again following the end of their relationship.