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A man accused of tricking a woman into flying to Amsterdam for a cruel “pull a pig” prank says he is the victim of a “witch hunt”.

Heartbroken Sophie Stevenson claims she spent £350 on a 400-mile trip to the Dutch capital after meeting Jesse Mateman while on holiday in Barcelona.

The 24-year-old says she was stood up when she arrived at the airport and, when she got to her hotel, received a text message saying: “You were pigged”.

Mr Mateman, 21, has now come forward, claiming the "whole story is fully invented”.

"I do not know that whole game... I'm just being broken here," he told Dutch website Metro.

He claimed that his parents and sister feel threatened, adding "it's a witch hunt".

He said: “We actually met in Barcelona, ​​but I never had a romance with her. I’ve been in the hotel room with her, but I never slept with her.

“We are or were not in love, as suggested… After Barcelona, ​​I did not have any telephone contact with her.

"In fact, I wonder if Sophie has been at Schiphol [Airport] anyway. I have no idea.”

Miss Stevenson previously told The Sun that she believed she was involved in a “proper romance" after pair slept together during the summer.

She claimed the pair stayed in touch, and “talked about having a long term relationship”.

However when she travelled to see Mr Mateman she received the “you were pigged” text message, alongside two pig images and a laughing face emoji.

The devastated young woman said: “Pulling a pig is where a guy tries to pull the fat, ugly girl. I felt sick.

"I was so upset I changed my flights and headed home the next morning."