Watch moment ex-MP tells reporter to 'f*** off' outside court
Watch moment ex-MP tells reporter to 'f*** off' outside court
The outburst came as Katie Wallis, formerly known as Jamie Wallis, awaited the start of a trial for harassment
Moment ex-MP tells reporter to 'f*** off' outside court
This is the moment a former Conservative MP swore at a reporter outside court while awaiting trial for harassment. Katie Wallis, formerly known as Jamie Wallis, denies harassing ex-wife Rebecca Wallis.
The politician, who was MP for Bridgend between 2019 and 2024, was due to stand trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Monday but the case was adjourned to next month due to concerns it would overrun the time allocated. Wallis was represented by top London barrister Narita Bahra KC who, around 15 minutes after the scheduled start time, explained her client was late due to being "followed" by a journalist and taking "haven" in the nearby Tesco Express.
Our reporter then went to Tesco to photograph Wallis who was standing outside smoking a cigarette. On seeing the reporter's camera phone Wallis said: "Oh, for f***'s sake. This is harassment. Bugger off." As our reporter walked away Wallis followed and demanded to know his employer so she could send a "solicitor's letter".
After hearing the answer she said: "WalesOnline? Okay, now f*** off." She then walked back towards the supermarket but she entered the court shortly afterwards.
Ms Bahra said her client — who became the UK's first transgender MP when she came out in 2022 — uses she/her pronouns although the barrister mostly referred to the politician as "he" during the hearing.
Katie Wallis, formerly known as Jamie Wallis, swears at a WalesOnline reporter near Cardiff Magistrates' Court
(Image: Conor Gogarty )
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The 40-year-old, of Windlass Court in Butetown, Cardiff, was initially alleged to have stalked her ex-wife between February 15 and March 20 this year in the Welsh capital. But on Monday the prosecution withdrew the stalking charge and instead brought one of harassment. Wallis pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleges she harassed Mrs Wallis with messages, voice notes, and phone calls, and by driving past her home.
Ms Bahra made an application for the charge to be dismissed arguing there was a lack of evidence that messages at the heart of the case were actually sent from Wallis' phone. But district judge Rhys Williams rejected the application and told the barrister: "That's a matter for trial... I need to consider the evidence."
While standing behind the glass partition of the dock to state a "not guilty" plea Wallis appeared uncomfortable and hunched. The judge asked: "Are you all right? You stumbled a little then." Wallis replied she was okay. Ms Bahra said her client suffers from claustrophobia.
Asked why the defence waited until Monday to file some key documents Ms Bahra said she was only instructed in recent days and that her client "is now in a position to be well enough to engage". She added that Wallis "previously wasn't compos mentis to understand" or to sign off on documents due to "significant mental health issues".
The judge replied that any such issues should have been relayed to the prosecution earlier. He allowed the prosecutor Simone Walsh half an hour to read through the documents.
Ms Walsh then opened the trial, telling the court: "The defendant and the victim were in a relationship for over 15 years. The parties separated in 2020 and their divorce was finalised in 2024. The Crown will say that following the victim informing the defendant of a new relationship the defendant's behaviour has become harassing in nature. The frequency, nature, and contents of the messages and voicemails amounted to harassment of the victim.
"Despite being arrested on February 28 and released on police bail the defendant has continued to send messages to the victim."
Katie Wallis, formerly known as Jamie Wallis, near Cardiff Magistrates' Court before the start of the trial
(Image: Conor Gogarty )
Ms Bahra said her client's mental health had "spiralled" and that there was no intent to harass. She added: "The complainant has chosen what messages to provide to police and she hasn't provided the full exchange with Dr Wallis [Katie Wallis].
"Dr Wallis was going through a very important stage of his transition process, which was to come out full-time, and the complainant took issue with that. The complainant did not want Dr Wallis to come out full-time as transgender. This involved announcing himself as a woman to the world and dressing as a woman full-time.'
Ms Bahra added that her client saw her ex-wife as her 'only emotional support' and that this was the reason she was 'reaching out to her'.
Rebecca Wallis was in court ready to give evidence against Katie Wallis. A felt screen was erected in preparation because she did not want to be seen by Katie Wallis while giving evidence.
Then, during discussions between the lawyers and judge Katie Wallis' phone went off. She gasped and said: 'I'm sorry.' Judge Williams replied: 'That's okay. Please make sure it's turned off now.'
After Ms Bahra raised concern that the trial would take too long to be heard fully on Monday Judge Williams decided it should be adjourned. He said: "I am acutely aware a witness is at court today to give evidence. I am aware of the associated stresses."
But he added: "I do not believe the trial can be concluded in the time allocated before me." The trial was adjourned to June 17.
In 2023 Wallis said she would not be contesting the following year's general election due to recent Westminster boundary changes. She said at the time the decision was not "a case of being chased out locally".
In 2022 she was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £620 in prosecution costs and a £190 victim services surcharge after being found guilty of failing to stop and report an accident and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position.
She had fled the scene after crashing her Mercedes E-Class saloon into a telegraph pole in the early hours of November 28, 2021. The then-MP said she had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that locals approaching her while she was dressed as a woman had triggered a 'trauma attack' which caused her to flee to a 'place of safety'.
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