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"My wife married our foster son"

When Steve Crandon discovered his wife had fallen for their teenage foster son, Krenar Lleshi, he was devastated. He and Julia had welcomed Krenar into their home when he was just 14 – and had brought up the Kosovan refugee as their own child.

And two weeks ago, Steve had yet another surprise – when he found out Julia and Krenar have just got married.

“I was shocked,” says Steve, 39, who works in customer services. “It’s all very bizarre and quite a lot to accept.”

But, astonishingly, Steve now wishes the pair all the best. “They’re obviously committed and that makes it better in my eyes. I’m not angry any more,” he says.

“At first it was horrendous but, over time, I’ve become used to it.”

When Steve and Julia fostered Krenar in 1999, he couldn’t speak any English, so the couple taught him words by sticking labels on everything in their home in Monmouthshire, South Wales.

“We took in teenagers because nobody else wanted them,” says Steve. The couple, who fostered over 20 teens together, had been unable to have children, despite IVF.

For four years Julia, Steve and Krenar lived happily together. But after Steve had a heart attack in 2003, things changed.

Before his illness, he’d been working away for long hours. But once he stopped, it became apparent he and Julia had grown apart. The pair also started to argue as Julia wanted more IVF, but Steve was reluctant.

Steve moved in with his parents to get some space but when he came back, Julia dropped her bombshell – she’d fallen in love with Krenar.

Steve says: “I was in shock that my wife had started sleeping with our foster son – I felt a fool.” He agreed to a divorce in 2004.

Julia, 34, and Krenar, now 21 and a plumber, moved to a house just three miles away from Steve, and went on to have a daughter together, Hattie, now one. It was then Steve says he started to forgive them.

“I realised part of the reason Julia left was to have a baby, so I started to feel happy for her,” he says.

 “Julia and I live just a few miles apart and we often bump into each other. I saw her in town just before Christmas, and stopped for a chat. She didn’t mention anything about getting married, though.”

And Steve was surprised Julia hadn’t told her family about the wedding. The only people present at the Christmas Eve ceremony were the couple, two witnesses, their daughter and their pet dog, Cupe.

“Julia has always been very close to her family, so it’s a surprise that she didn’t tell anyone it was taking place,” says Steve.

Julia, who’s always denied the relationship started before her marriage broke up, is unrepentant.
“My wedding day was one of the happiest days of my life,” she says.

“It felt wonderful to say my vows. It’s lovely to show the world how in love we are. I know people have gossiped about us so we wanted it to be a very private occasion.”

And Krenar adds: “I’m really happy with Julia and Hattie.” 

By Lisa Woollard