A woman has revealed how she fell in love with her son's best friend who is 22 years her junior.

Dawn Northey, 42, from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, was instantly attracted to Takhari Aldridge, 20, when her son introduced the pair.

Dawn's son, Callum Northey, 18, and Takhari had been online gaming friends for three years before finally meeting in June 2017.

Seven months later, Dawn and Takhari, then 18, kissed after she dropped him home one afternoon and they've been a couple ever since.

Dawn Northey, 42, from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, fell in love with her son's best friend Takhari Aldridge, 20, who is 22 years her junior (pictured together)

Dawn's son, Callum Northey, 18, and Takhari had been online gaming friends for three years before finally meeting in June 2017. Pictured, Addison, 8, Takhari, 20, and Callum, 18

The mother-of-two was instantly attracted to Takhari (pictured together) when her son Callum, 18, introduced the pair

The mum-of-two claims her son is happy about the union, but others haven't been as accepting.

'When I first met Takhari, I couldn't believe I found an 18-year-old attractive,' said Dawn, who is unemployed.

'Thankfully he fancied me too in the end and now we're head over heels in love. A lot of people condemn our relationship but we just ignore it.'

In July 2014, Dawn's son, Callum, met Takhari, who is unemployed, online while playing Xbox games.

Over the next three years, they spoke every day until Takhari invited Callum to his house in June 2017.

Dawn, who was married at the time, then drove her son 300 miles from their home Glasgow to Wolverhampton so he could stay with his gaming pal.

Dawn (pictured), who was married at the time, drove her son 300 miles from their home Glasgow to Wolverhampton so he could stay with his gaming pal Takhari - which is when she first set eyes on Takhari

Dawn said that when she saw Takhari for the first time, she thought he was 'tall, dark and handsome.' Pictured, Takhari 20 and Dawn's daughter, Addison, 8

'As we pulled up to the house, I saw Takhari standing in the driveway,' she explained. 'He was tall, dark and handsome.'

'I went inside and chatted with Takhari's mum while the boys played video games upstairs.

'We said how we'd heard our sons speak about each other over the years and how nice it was that they were finally meeting.'

A week later, Dawn returned to Takhari's house to pick up Callum.

'After the boys said goodbye, I told Takhari he was more than welcome to visit him whenever he liked,' she said. 'Takhari then gave me his number and told me to let him know if I ever got lost in the area.'

Back at home, Dawn's 15-year marriage to Callum's dad came to an end - and in January 2018, the couple split up.

Dawn, Callum and her daughter, Addison, 8, moved out of their family home to Blentyre, South Lanarkshire.

Seven weeks later, Callum invited Takhari to stay with them.

The mum-of-two claims her son is happy about the union, but others haven't been as accepting. Pictured together, Dawn with Takhari

Dawn (pictured) and Takhari were texting each other in secret but within six days, Takhari's mum discovered their messages and kicked Takhari out of the house

'When Takhari came to visit, I was excited to see him,' she explained. 'I kept stealing glances at him around the house.

'Every day I had to tell myself I was too old for him and to stop being daft. I thought it was just a silly crush.'

The next week, Dawn drove Takhari back home to Wolverhampton.

'As we chatted away about our lives, I had no idea how mature he was,' she explained. 'When we arrived, Takhari suddenly leaned in and kissed me in the car.

'I couldn't believe it. I had no idea he fancied me too. I was over the moon. Later that night he texted me saying he'd been dying to kiss me from the moment we met.'

After that, Dawn and Takhari texted each other in secret. But within six days, Takhari's mum discovered their text messages and kicked Takhari out of the house.

'I was heart broken,' said Dawn. 'Takhari had nowhere to live so I told him to come stay with us. Next, I needed to come clean to my son, but I was terrified.'

She continued: 'That night, I told Callum that Takhari and I had romantic feelings for each other.

'I explained that if he didn't accept us then we would end it immediately, as neither of us wanted to sacrifice our relationship with him.

Despite their whopping 22 year age gap, the couple (pictured together) insist they are happier than ever

The mother-of-two said she doesn't understand why people judge their relationship when they are simply happy and in love (pictured together)

'Callum shrugged his shoulders and told me he was fine with it. I'd never felt so relieved.'

With Callum's blessing, Dawn and Takhari moved in together that day and became a couple. But it wasn't long until the couple faced criticism.

'Whenever I held Takhari's hand in public, strangers gave me dirty looks,' said Dawn. 'Then one day Takhari injured his knuckle and we had to go the hospital.'

'The nurse said: "I'll check your son's hand now." I felt so embarrassed and told her I was his partner, not his mum. She apologised and said it was because I looked so much older.

'Even someone from my family accused me of grooming Takhari and threatened to call the police. We were both horrified. Takhari was a full grown adult when we met, not a child.'

Despite their whopping 22 year age gap, the couple insist they are happier than ever.

'Takhari has given me a new lease of life,' explained Dawn. 'He and Callum are still best friends and it hasn't affected their friendship.

'Addison even calls Takhari Dad now, it's adorable. Although Takhari's mum hasn't given us her blessing, we really hope she will one day.

'I don't see why people judge our relationship when we are simply happy and in love. Most of the time we forget we have an age gap anyway.'