Ashley blames mother-in-law for his and Cheryl's sex life 'dwindling to virtually nothing'

By Sara Nathan and Ben Todd

Joan first moved into the Cole house to keep an eye on her daughter following the first allegations of Ashley's infidelity


A public vow of silence by Cheryl and Ashley Cole about their marriage split was shattered by their friends after only 24 hours yesterday.

Supporters of the cheating footballer blamed his mother-in-law for the break-up, claiming he had told how his sex life with Cheryl 'dwindled to virtually nothing' after Joan Callaghan came to live in their £6million mansion.

As the marriage came under strain, Cole is said to have spent up to six hours a night at home playing on his Xbox computer game console with friends including Chelsea teammate John Terry, the disgraced England captain, and former teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Cheryl's mother Joan, 50, moved into the nine-bedroom house in Hurtmore, Surrey, to keep an eye on her daughter shortly after Cole was first accused of cheating on her with blonde hair-dresser Aimee Walton in January 2008.

At 5ft, Mrs Callaghan is a good three inches shorter than her daughter, but what she lacks in stature she makes up for with her no-nonsense personality.

Known to friends and family as the 'pocket rocket', she is fiercely protective and proud of her daughter.


Cheryl is extremely close to her mother, who she took with her to the premiere of Freaky Friday in 2003


But in the end Cole's alleged affairs with at least five women led to the breakdown of his three and a half year marriage to the 26-year-old singer and X Factor judge which was announced on Tuesday.

One source close to 29-year-old Cole said he had tried to paint a picture of a downtrodden husband to make an excuse for his affairs, adding: 'Cheryl and Ashley barely saw each other in the last few months.

'He was away a lot with Chelsea and she was busy with the X Factor and building her solo career.

'He said they used to have a spontaneous and fresh sex life, but with her mother in the house it was extremely difficult.

'And when they were both at home Cheryl would stay up watching TV with her mum while he went to bed. It's a bit of a passion killer to have your mum in the house.

'Ashley said their sex life had dwindled to virtually nothing. He knows he is to blame, but the marriage was not great.'

Yesterday it was claimed the couple could opt for a 'quickie' divorce which would see the split finalised by May.

However, sources close to Mrs Cole denied this saying: 'Cheryl has not been to see a divorce lawyer.'

The friend said that, far from rushing straight to the divorce court, the pair were treating the break-up as a ' separation', adding: 'Cheryl is having time on her own.

We cannot say anything else at this stage.'

A source close to Cole said: 'There is nothing certain just yet. This is a relationship between two people that has already been through a lot. At the moment, it is a separation. Nothing more.'

There are suggestions that Cole, who earns £82,000 a week, is considering going to counselling in an attempt to persuade his estranged wife to take him back.

And the couple, who have an estimated-22million fortune, have not even discussed who is going to keep their beloved Chihuahuas Coco and Buster.


Ashley is said to blame Cheryl's mother Joan for the split, and thinks her moving into their home was the reason his marriage broke down


While Mrs Cole yesterday remained at home in Surrey with her mother and friends for company, Cole is in France for treatment on a broken ankle.

The singer is booked to appear on BBC 1's Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on March 12 - the show on which she chose in 2008 to break her silence on her husband's reported one-night stand with Miss Walton.

And she is expected to have the 'Mrs C' tattoo on the back of her neck removed.

Earlier this month glamour girl Sonia Wild told how she received semi-naked pictures of Cole on her phone and claimed she had exchanged raunchy texts with him. Cole claimed his mobile phone was with a friend.

Secretary Vicki Gough told how she had sex on two occasions with Cole in 2008.

Ann Corbitt, a U.S. local government worker, claimed last week she had sex with him in a Seattle hotel last July.

Spokesmen for the Coles declined to comment last night.


Ink: Cheryl is expected to erase the 'Mrs C' tattoo on the back of her neck


source: dailymail