This kinda sounds like the title of an episode of the sadly now deceased ‘The Jeremy Kyle Show’ (RIP), so I suppose it’s great to know that stories like this are still out there even without the aid of everyone’s ‘favourite’ talk show host.

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27 year old Sydney Dean from Ohio met her future husband Paul when she was just eleven years old and he was forty one. Sydney was dating Paul’s son at the time, but their romance fizzled out after a while – the two remained friends though and would often visit each other’s houses and hang out.

However, when Paul’s son found another girlfriend in his mid teens, Sydney would often feel like a third wheel during their hangouts and so found herself turning towards Paul for attention instead. One thing led to another and when Sydney turned 16 the two started dating each other and were married in 2016, living happily ever after since.

Here’s what Sydney had to say about their relationship:

He is the only person I have had sex with and he is the best.

I can’t really compare the sex to other relationships, as he is the first real relationship I have been in.

I never expected to fall in love with Paul and we met in a non-traditional way, but I’m so happy I did.

My mum already knew who Paul was and from the few times they have talked, they got along just fine.

But when I first told my mum that we were together, she was not happy. The age gap really got to her and it stayed that way for about a year – eventually she came around.

Now that we live pretty close to each other, she comes over all the time. She’s 100 percent supportive of us and absolutely loves Paul.

In the beginning my father didn’t like the age gap either and as he lives out of state, he didn’t see him as much. But now, he really likes him.

I did have one friend that wasn’t OK with mine and Paul’s relationship.

This friend would never want to come hang out or even talk to me much at all if he was around. She eventually didn’t want to be my friend anymore because of the age difference in the relationship

I wish people would understand that couples with an age gap can truly love and care for one another.

There are a lot of negative assumptions about age gap relationships, but that doesn’t mean couples can’t be in it for the right reasons.

He is the best husband I could have asked for, and he treats me so great.

I always question why people in these weird situations want to share them with newspaper publications, but I suppose there’s your answer. It does sound like Sydney really loves her husband and they have been together for an awfully long time now, but it’s also really weird and creepy when an old man starts dating a 16 year old because it’s very easy to manipulate somebody that is so young and malleable.

Is that what Paul’s doing? Or are they in a wonderful and loving relationship? That’s for you to decide.

For more of the same, check out this list of celebrities that have dated minors. Way more than you would have thought.