David Walliams's supermodel ex-wife Lara Stone, 42, bravely revealed cancer battle just weeks before he was unmasked as gag order celebrity and accused of preying on teen girls

Lara Stone bravely revealed she was diagnosed with cancer just weeks before her ex David Walliams was unmasked as the gag order star accused of preying on teenagers.The Dutch supermodel, 42, who was married to the comedian and author, 55, for five years and with whom she shares son Alfred, 13, said the breast cancer diagnosis came as a 'huge shock' but she was grateful the disease had been detected early.Lara announced the news in an Instagram post last month as she urged women not to ignore changes to their bodies shortly before the shocking accusations.She wrote: 'Since it's still officially Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to share that I have recently been diagnosed and am undergoing treatment for breast cancer. This has obviously been a huge shock, and I'm so grateful to have found it early.'Explaining why she had decided to make her diagnosis public, the Victoria's Secret model continued: 'I don't often share my personal life online, but if this post will make just 1 person check their breasts, or make that appointment they've been putting off, it's worth sharing. Please don't ignore changes to your body.'The announcement was accompanied by a pink breast cancer awareness graphic carrying the message: 'Check your breasts it could save your life.'Lara, who has appeared on the covers of Vogue and fronted major campaigns for Calvin Klein lingerie and Versace, did not reveal when she received her diagnosis, what stage the cancer is at or what treatment she is undergoing. Lara Stone bravely revealed she was diagnosed with cancer just weeks before her ex David Walliams was unmasked as the gag order star accused of preying on teenagers (pictured in 2013) The Dutch supermodel, 42, who was married to the comedian and author, 55, for five years and with whom she shares son Alfred, 13, said the breast cancer diagnosis came as a 'huge shock' but she was grateful the disease had been detected early (Lara pictured in 2023)Her heartbreaking admission came shortly before her ex David was unmasked as the celebrity who fought for a court order to suppress allegations that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and preyed on multiple other teenagers. After five years of marriage, in 2015 David filed for divorce, citing Lara's 'unreasonable behaviour' in the legal paperwork. This was the formal ground for the divorce, rather than a public explanation of what had actually gone wrong.David, one of the world's best-selling children's authors, sought an injunction to prevent publication of the claims, arguing he would take his own life if the allegations became public.The TV star and author is accused of 'abusing his status' on Little Britain and Britain's Got Talent to engage in 'inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities' with 'a large number' of women and girls.One whistleblower at his former publisher, HarperCollins, which made millions from his children's books, claimed: 'There was an agreement, if you went to his house you had to go in a pair. You couldn't go by yourself.'David denies any wrongdoing and argued in the High Court that he would kill himself if his identity were revealed.On Tuesday afternoon, Downing Street said allegations of sexual misconduct made by multiple women were 'deeply troubling'. Labour has suspended him as a party member, it later emerged. Lara announced the news in an Instagram post last month as she urged women not to ignore changes to their bodies The announcement was accompanied by a pink breast cancer awareness graphic carrying the message: 'Check your breasts it could save your life'One accuser, named as Jade by ITV News and The Guardian, alleges she was sexually assaulted by David when she was 15 after he contacted her online.Jade claims they met in Soho before he drove her to his home in his Aston Martin. She alleges David sexually assaulted her at Supernova Heights, the mansion once owned by Oasis star Noel Gallagher.'He asked me to come over and gave me a hug. That's when he kissed me,' Jade alleged of David, who was 36 at the time.'He lifted my top up and sucked on my breast and then tried to put my hand down his trousers. That's when I pulled away and said, 'No'. He had an erection at the time,' she said.'I wasn't ready for sex. I didn't want to do that, with him or with anyone. I didn't want to be touched in that way at all. I mean, I was only 15.'She claimed she had confided in him that she had previously been sexually abused by someone else as a child, to which he responded: 'Sorry to hear that.'Jade said she considers what she alleges happened to her to have been 'sexual assault' and 'grooming', adding: 'It's completely wrong in every way.' David, one of the world's best-selling children's authors, sought an injunction to prevent publication of the claims, arguing he would take his own life if the allegations became publicAnother woman, identified only as Alex, claims David began contacting her when she was 15 and studying for her mock GCSEs after meeting her at a Little Britain fan event where he was dressed as his character Lou, wearing a frizzy wig and leather jacket.The moment they met was captured on camera. They began a sexual relationship around two years later, when she was 17.Asked how she feels about him now, she said: 'I want to vomit. I hate him. My body reacts when I think about it. It's like a trauma response. I think I was groomed. One hundred per cent.'Former Britain's Got Talent judge David launched a High Court bid to prevent the media reporting the allegations, prompting fevered speculation online about his identity.However, a judge dismissed his claim last week and David did not lodge an appeal before Monday's 4.30pm deadline. ITV News and The Guardian named him at midday on Tuesday.The BBC is in the process of removing some programmes, including Little Britain, while it carries out a review of 'all material featuring and written by David Walliams on our platforms', a spokesman has said. David has also been dropped by his agents, ITG.