(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-20 15:48

Heather Mills' ex-beau is desperate to vanish after selling secrets of their romance to a British tabloid newspaper because he believes that the former model will be 'gunning' for him.

Mills was going around with British film editor Tim Steel on and off for three years, but she parted ways shortly after meeting Sir Paul McCartney.

Steel struck a deal with the News of the World to reveal his relationship with Mills.

The 45-year-old insists that he spilled the beans only because he wanted to pay for his children's education.

"I had a long, long chat with my wife about it and we thought the chance was there to secure my boys' education. I wasn't just some greedy love rat. No one was ever going to offer me that kind of money again," Contactmusic quoted the Sydney Morning Herald, as saying.

However, Steel, now based in Sydney, Australia, has serious regrets about what he did for money and is keen to escape the wrath of his former lover.

"I just want to disappear. I don't want it to go any further. It's causing a massive rift in my family. She (Mills) will be gunning for me. She is not going to be happy," he said.