Rugby ace Ben Cohen reveals he's ‘fighting to save relationship’ with Strictly's Kristina Rihanoff as she sobs in court

RETIRED England rugby ace Ben Cohen has told a court he is “fighting to save his home and his relationship” with Strictly star ex-fiancée Kristina Rihanoff.

The Russian ballroom dancer, 46, was caught driving her Audi Q3 without insurance in Horsemarket, Northampton on April 4.

Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen first met in 2013. Credit: Getty

They began their relationship after teaming up on Strictly Come DancingCredit: PA: Press Association

The couple still lives together Credit: Instagram/krihanoff

She appeared in court in Northampton under her name Kristina Pchenitchnykh and sobbed throughout the hearing.

At one point, the mother-of-one left the courtroom with her hands over her mouth because she was “sick”, reports the Northamptonshire Telegraph.

She then returned wrapped in a white blanket as the case continued.

The engaged couple has a daughter, Mila, while Cohen has twins, Harriette and Isabelle, from his previous marriage.

Cohen, 45, who appeared as a witness, said: “I get up every day and fight not to lose everything to lose my cars, my house and my relationship. I’m so over the top.”

Asked about the tension in his relationship, he said: “We still live together. We’re in it financially.

BEN COHEN AND KRISTINA RHIANOFF’S DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP

The couple met when they were partners for the 11th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and fell in love.

This was despite Cohen being married to Abby Bray at the time.

Cohen and Rihanoff share a daughter, Mila, and planned to marry in Tuscany or Oxfordshire.

He said Hello! 2023 Magazine: “During the last nine years, we’ve been through the wringer.

“Supporting each other in difficult business moments is the biggest test in a relationship.

“I’ve watched her progress, from becoming a mom to growing as a business woman, and it’s strengthened our bond.”

The couple previously revealed they got engaged during a sun-drenched holiday in the Maldives in 2022.

“We do business together, so the problem is that we opened the company before Covid and we had the worst consequences and frankly, this is just another problem that I have to deal with.

“I have credit cards that are overdrawn. I have overdrafts on both accounts. We have business debt because of Covid. It’s just another problem.”

Rihanoff and Cohen were partners for the 11th series of the BBC show in 2013.

Cohen left his wife Abbie Bray for the dancer.

Earlier this year, Cohen suggested they were planning to “marry in secret” but are currently focused on their respective businesses, MailOnline reports.

They previously said HELLO! they planned to tie the knot in either Tuscany or Oxfordshire before throwing a big party at Soho Farmhouse, where the Duchess of Sussex held her bachelorette party.

The court heard the couple set up a number of businesses, including a yoga studio, which has been hit hard by Covid.

The couple previously talked about getting financial support from the Government, which took its toll.

‘The curse of Strictly strikes again…’

BY Lottie Hulme, Senior Showbiz Reporter

Since the first episode aired on May 15, 2004, the so-called ‘Strict Curse’ has seen relationships fall apart due to dance floor romances and strict rehearsal schedules.

That’s how Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff met after they were paired on a dance show in 2013.

And while they seem to have stood the test of time, with more than a decade together, Ben and Kristina’s relationship must have also been strained over the years, especially after being out of work for 13 months due to quarantine.

They had plans to “marry in secret” but that fell through after the couple were forced to focus on their business after setting up multiple businesses, including a yoga studio, which was hit hard by Covid.

Then the couple spoke about how they did not receive financial support from the state, which took a toll on them.

Kristina said: “It’s easy to love someone when everything is rosy, but it’s a different story when life becomes a challenge.”

So there’s no doubt the couple have been through a lot together – firstly the curse of Strictly and the backlash that can often come with it, their financial struggles, and Ben’s eight-year-old daughter suffering from a heart condition, which sees her being taken to Great Ormond Hospital Street for treatment.

And now they face the challenge of a court hearing where Ben told the court he was “fighting to save his home and his relationship” after Kristina was caught driving her Audi Q3 without insurance.

This is a couple that has experienced many setbacks, and as they face one of their biggest challenges yet, some say “karma” is at play, after Ben ended his marriage to be with Kristina.

Either way, it’s clear that the Strictly curse has struck again, in a very turbulent year for the show.

Rihanoff said, “It’s easy to love someone when everything is rosy, but it’s a different story when life becomes a challenge.”

And Cohen added: “Every love story has its honeymoon period, but it ends in the end.

“Love has different meanings and for me it is a relationship with a partner who has gone through difficult times with me and we move forward together.

– She is the person I want in my life forever.

Cohen appeared as a witness at the court hearing and admitted that he had overlooked a text from his insurance company before the incident.

He confirmed that he was solely responsible for insuring the couple’s car.

Rihanoff received six points on her license but faced a ban as she racked up 12 penalty points.

The hearing on Friday was to appeal the verdict.

Rihanoff told the court she had to drive to judge dance competitions across the UK, as well as take her children to school.

Cohen said he took out the policy with Dial Direct on February 22 but was overseas when he received a message saying it would be canceled unless he provided details of the claims.

He said he didn’t have a no-claims bonus so he didn’t send any details as it “wasn’t relevant to me” and the policy was canceled on March 7.

He added that he was “not aware” that he had been terminated at the time of the incident in April.

Recorder Cox said she had “every sympathy”.

Rihanoff was spared a driving ban due to “exceptional difficulties”.

The court heard as well as taking her daughters to school, her eight-year-old stepdaughter is suffering from a heart problem and she is taking her to Great Ormond Street Hospital for treatment.

Rihanoff lives 25 minutes from her dance studio and travels around the UK on weekends judging dance competitions.

ABBIE BRAY IS LOUD ABOUT BETRAYAL

Ben Cohen’s ex-wife Abbie Bray has been vocal about her feelings of betrayal after he dumped her for Kristina Rihanoff.

After splitting from him in 2014, she told The Sun On Sunday a year later: “My husband, who I was with for 23 years, loved unconditionally and was completely devoted in every way, left me for a f***ing Russian dancer.

“The last two years have been the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me. He did dirt on me. I want people to know.

“I don’t want to cause stress or further damage by stirring things up. But I’m just trying to recover from what has been the most horrific period of my life.”