The Story Of Jamie Vardy's Lookalike Takes A Cruel Twist

3rd May 2016 was a date to remember for Jamie Vardy lookalike Lee Chapman. As he climbed on board the team bus after Leicester City had won the Premier League, Lee became a viral phenomenon after cameras caught the moment he shared a memorable selfie with England international Jamie Vardy.

Chapman described the moment as 'one of the best moments of his life', but his stint as a lookalike has slowly become a nightmare rather than a dream and the latest episode in his story is evidence of that.

Chapman has been subject to a whole lot of abuse from various people, both on social media and in person - as Shortlist reporter Nick Pope uncovered when he spent time with the lookalike back in June.

But it's got even worse for Chapman as he claims to have been scammed by his agent over appearance fees.

After becoming a viral sensation following Leicester City's memorable title win and celebrations, Chapman was snapped up by Lookalikes, an agency ran by a David Beckham impersonator named Andy Hamer.

Chapman, however, was led to believe that Jamie Austin, who worked as his agent, headed up the agency and was co-director and owner.

Yet through a investigation from the BBC, it emerged that Austin was not in charge at all and was merely employed to run the social media channels for the business.

The BBC managed to access some emails and allegedly found that Austin had altered invoice payments so that Chapman's fees for appearances would end up in a separate account - which he was accessing,and it is alleged that Chapman did not receive his due amounts.

Detailing the story, he said:

"I could've stayed at Royal Mail and got more money.

"I've had to work six days a week non-stop, overtime, you name it, to get back to where I wanted to be."

"It's the reputation I'm bothered about. I don't really give two monkeys about the money."

After gaining fame, the Chapman-Vardy relationship turned sour as the footballer, and his wife, blocked the postman on Twitter.

Vardy was asked about the blocking in a press conference back in June:

It later came to light that Mr Austin, acting as Chapman's agent, had apparently sold the story to The Sun for around £750 without him knowing.

And he also discovered that he was being paid much less than another lookalike in the company, as George Best impersonator Mark O'Hare was earning more for the same line of work.

Chapman acknowledged his naivety in the fiasco but says it was normal to not be entirely clued-up, given that he had stepped into a completely different world.

"When you're a postman and then, all of a sudden, you're dragged into the public eye, you just don't know do you? You don't know nothing."

It turns out that Mr Austin has a history of similar acts of alleged fraudulence. In 2008, as per the Dorset Echo, he set up accounts in his grandparents' names to recoup money lost through gambling and admitted to 10 charges of fraud and false representation, two wallet thefts and two charges of intercepting post belonging to the Royal Mail without lawful excuse.

According to the BBC, he was sent to jail four years later for other offences when he and another man were arrested on suspicion of using fake notes at Ascot races.

The BBC produced a documentary on the story, which you can watch here:

Chapman, who has returned to his previous job as postman, has been calling out his former agent on Twitter:

Austin has denied the allegations made by Chapman.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said:

"Lee got paid for all work that was due to him, we parted when Royal Mail gave him the ultimatum to going back as a postman after his temporary career break or to leave and become a Jamie Vardy lookalike.

"We had a good working relationship for the majority of time, Lee met my family, I met his.

"The claims made by Lee are false. His current behaviour on social media is exactly why he got blocked by the Vardy family and was labelled a stalker, his actions are mirrored now."

The only way this story could get any weirder is if Austin and Chapman align again to become co-managers of Leicester City.

What do you make of the story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

(h/t BBC)

Josh Lawless

Josh is a writer who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

@https://twitter.com/JoshLawless_