Chef Graham Hornigold had never known where – or even who – she was. Then out of the blue he got an emailIn early 2020 life was sweet for Graham Hornigold. A pastry chef who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and been a judge on Junior Bake Off, he had recently launched his own small chain of high-end doughnut shops and cafes in London, along with his partner, New Zealander Heather Kaniuk, also a pastry chef. They had a baby on the way, too – a chance for Hornigold to create the happy family unit he hadn’t experienced in his own childhood.Then, out of the blue, dropped the email that would change his life. Hi Graham, I’m not sure if this is going to reach you as I’ve been searching for a way to contact you and found this email. My name’s Dionne, formerly known as Theresa Graham was born in Germany before being taken away from me to England. Continue reading...
Graham Hornigold, fostered as a child and raised by his father and stepmother, met his birth mother, Dionne, later in life. He spent significant time and money on her during her final days, which caused financial strain and ultimately led to the end of his relationship with his partner, Kaniuk. Kaniuk discovered Hornigold had given his mother a large sum of money and opened credit cards in his name to pay for her expenses. Dionne's actions, though hurtful, were difficult to prosecute due to their familial relationship. Hornigold acknowledges his vulnerability to scams due to a lack of maternal love in childhood.
