THE girlfriend of smooth-talker Amir Hafez vowed today: "I'll forgive him".

But the smooth-talking ladies' man still claims he has done nothing wrong.

We revealed yesterday how stunning Michele Sargeant was shocked to discover Amir, her partner of four years, had entered an Argus and Southern FM competition for unattached Romeos to win a blind date in paradise.

Michele, 30, of Iden Street, Eastbourne, listened in disbelief as the man she thought of as a future husband told Southern FM listeners about his ideal woman to accompany him to Antigua.

However, reunited yesterday afternoon for the first time since Amir had publicly humiliated her, Michele vowed their romance is not over yet.

She said: "When I found out what he'd done I couldn't stop crying. My friend phoned me on Monday when his picture went into the Argus and I got a copy first thing the next day.

"We had a massive row about it on Tuesday and I haven't spoken to him since, until now. I haven't eaten for two days.

"It's not the other woman who would be going that bothers me because I trust him, it's the public humiliation.

"He has no idea what he has done to me, how much he has hurt me."

Amazingly, Amir, 36, says it is Michele who is in the wrong for going public about their relationship.

And, although Eastbourne Borough Council administration assistant Michele is willing to try again, Amir says he is not sure if HE can forgive HER.

Engineer Amir said: "I have never seen her like this before. I regret doing the whole thing now. I can't believe Michele has done this.

"She knows I wouldn't leave her for anyone else. I had no intention of doing anything with the other girl.

"It was a joke and I never thought it would go this far. I haven't done anything wrong.

"If it was the other way round I would have supported Michele.

"Earlier on today I thought I would never want to speak to her again. I don't know how I feel about it now."

The couple met four years ago when Amir was working outside Michele's house.

They went out for lunch with Michele's daughter Emma, ten, and the relationship developed.

The pair now spend their time playing badminton, swimming, going to the casino and enjoying candlelit dinners.

Michele said: "He grew on me. I fell in love with him because he's a charmer and the nicest man I've ever met.

"We get on really well, we've got a similar sense of humour."

The pair see each other or speak on the telephone every day and send each other e-mails as they work together, too.

Michele said: "I thought we were getting on really well and were very close, which is why this was such a shock."

But despite branding Amir "a vain and selfish ladies' man who is always flirting", Michele says she still loves him.

She said: "He's a smarmbag. He goes up to women with his flirty, little smile.

"He's quite short but they always go for his smile. It would be nice if he said sorry and admitted he's a dirty, cheating rat. But I love him dearly.

"He's a lovely, jolly person and we get on really well."

But Amir said: "It's not as if I'm married with ten kids.

"I need time to calm down before I decide what to do."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.