Latest news with #RebeccaWallis
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Transgender ex-MP ‘harassed wife after divorce'
A transgender former Conservative MP is accused of harassing his ex-wife after they divorced, a court has heard. Katie Wallis, 40, of Butetown, Cardiff, who was previously known as Jamie, appeared before Cardiff Magistrates' Court charged with the 'harassment without violence' of Rebecca Wallis between February and March 2025. The former MP, who served Bridgend in South Wales between 2019 and 2024, is alleged to have driven by her home, sent unwanted messages, made phone calls and left voice notes, after Ms Wallis began a new relationship. Mr Wallis, who was referred to as 'he' by the defence lawyer, spoke only to enter a not guilty plea and confirm his name, age and address. He said: 'My legal name is Jamie Wallis, but my preferred name is Katie Wallis.' Hearing adjourned Monday's hearing had been listed as a trial, but the defence had failed to provide the prosecution with documents in an appropriate timeframe, which forced the judge to adjourn the case. The case will now go to trial on June 17. Before the hearing was adjourned, Mr Wallis appeared in the dock wearing a blue cardigan over a white top, with long brown hair and large hooped earrings. Simone Walsh, prosecuting, gave a brief outline of her case. She said: 'The defendant and victim were in a relationship for over 15 years or so. They separated in 2020 and divorce was finalised in 2024. 'Following the victim informing the defendant of a new relationship the defendant's behaviour became harassing in nature.' Hid from reporters Narita Bahra KC, representing the defendant, said there was 'no malice on his part' in the messages and that Mr Wallis had been going through a 'very important stage in his gender transition process'. While in the dock, Mr Wallis appeared to stumble, and Ms Bahra said the former MP was claustrophobic. She said there had been concerns about Mr Wallis's fitness, that there were 'significant mental health issues' and that her client was likely to need breaks throughout the trial. Before proceedings started, Ms Bahra said Mr Wallis had sought refuge from reporters in a nearby Tesco store. A charge of 'stalking without fear, alarm, distress' was dismissed after the prosecution said it would be submitting no evidence. The hearing was adjourned.
The Independent
19-05-2025
- The Independent
Former MP appears in court charged with harassing ex-wife
A former Conservative MP is accused of harassing their ex-wife after they divorced, a court has heard. Katie Wallis, 40, of Butetown, Cardiff, who was previously known as Jamie, appeared before Cardiff Magistrates' Court charged with the 'harassment without violence' of Rebecca Wallis between February and March 2025. The former MP, who served Bridgend in South Wales between 2019 and 2024, is accused of driving past the alleged victim's home, sending her unwanted messages, and phoning and leaving voice notes, after Ms Wallis entered into a new relationship. Wallis, who was repeatedly referred to as 'he' by their defence lawyer, spoke only to enter a plea and confirm their name, age and address. Wallis said: 'My legal name is Jamie Wallis, but my preferred name is Katie Wallis.' Monday's hearing had been listed as a trial, but the defence had failed to provide the prosecution with documents in an appropriate timeframe, forcing the judge to adjourn the case. The case will now go to trial on June 17. Before the hearing was adjourned, Wallis appeared in the dock wearing a blue cardigan over a white top, with long brown hair and large hooped earrings, where they entered a not guilty plea. Simone Walsh, prosecuting, gave a brief outline of her case. She said: 'The defendant and victim were in a relationship for over 15 years or so. They separated in 2020 and divorce was finalised in 2024. 'Following the victim informing the defendant of a new relationship the defendant's behaviour became harassing in nature.' Narita Bahra KC, representing the defendant, said there was 'no malice on his part' in the messages and Wallis had been going through a 'very important stage in his gender transition process'. While in the dock, Wallis appeared to stumble, and Ms Bahra said the former MP is claustrophobic. She said there had been concerns about Wallis' fitness, that there are 'significant mental health issues' and her client was likely to need breaks throughout the trial. Before proceedings started, Ms Bahra said Wallis had 'took haven' in a nearby Tesco store after seeing reporters. A charge of 'stalking without fear, alarm, distress' was dismissed after the prosecution said it would be submitting no evidence. The hearing was adjourned.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Britain's first transgender MP harassed his ex-wife by sending her unwanted text messages and voicemails as he transitioned to become a woman, court hears
Britain's first transgender MP harassed his ex-wife by sending unwanted text messages and voicemails while going through the 'emotional, physical and medical' effects of transitioning, a court heard today. Former Conservative MP Katie Wallis, 40, appeared in the dock dressed in a white blouse, pale blue cardigan, grey trousers, black patent leather shoes and silver hoop earrings. She told the court her legal name was Jamie Wallis but now goes by the name of Katie. The father-of-two is accused of harassing ex-wife Rebecca after she told the former MP she had met someone else. Wallis denies the charge. Former Bridgend MP Wallis was reaching out to her ex-wife while going through the 'emotional, physical and medical' effects of changing gender, Cardiff Magistrates Court heard. Prosecutor Simone Walsh said: 'The defendant and victim were in a relationship for 15 years and share two children together. 'They separated in 2020 and their divorce was finalised in 2024. 'Following the victim informing the defendant of a new relationship, the defendant's behaviour became 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 bail, the defendant has continued to send messages to his victim.' The court heard Wallis sent text messages and left voicemails to her ex-wife between February 14 and March 21 this year. A screen was put up in court to avoid Mrs Wallis coming face-to-face with her ex-husband, the Tory MP for Bridgend between 2019 and 2024. Narita Bahra KC, defending, said the evidence against Wallis did not amount to harassment and that her mental health had 'spiralled' at the time of the allegations. She said: 'The complainant has chosen what messages to provide to police and she hasn't provided the full exchange with Dr Wallis. 'Dr Wallis was going through a very important stage of her transition process which was to come out full-time. 'The complainant took issue with that. She 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. 'She was so unwell and was not in a position where she had support from others - she was reaching out to her.' The prosecution offered no evidence on a charge of stalking. District Judge Rhys Williams adjourned the hearing before Mrs Wallis gave her evidence because there was enough time to complete the hearing. He ordered a new psychiatric report to be carried out on Wallis and adjourned the trial until June 17. As Jamie Wallis, he was elected to the Commons in 2019, becoming the first Tory to win the South Wales seat of Bridgend since the 1980s. Wallis became the first MP in the UK to come out as transgender three years later. The announcement came after he crashed his Mercedes while wearing high heels and a black leather PVC mini-skirt before leaving the scene and being arrested in bed six hours later. In March 2022, Wallis revealed he had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria having 'felt this way since I was a very young child' and that he wanted to transition to be a woman. Wallis also said he had been raped and blackmailed, and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. In response, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Wallis's bravery, and politicians from across the political spectrum publicly expressed their support. In July 2022 Wallis was banned from the road for six months and fined £2,500 after crashing his Mercedes. The MP was found guilty of failing to stop, failing to report the collision, and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position after hitting a lamppost in Llanblethian, South Wales. But he was cleared of driving without due care and attention following a trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court. Wallis – who arrived at court on that occasion wearing a dark suit, white shirt and tie - said the crash was caused by swerving to avoid a cat on the road. 'His eyelids were dark, his lips were red and his cheeks were bronzed, and he had red nail polish on his toes.' After being arrested, Wallis told police he had left the scene due to a 'PTSD attack' which left him feeling 'vulnerable' and 'as if I was going to be attacked again'. Wallis said he had been having 'nightmares and flashbacks' due to allegedly being raped two months earlier. The court heard Wallis 'fully intended' to report the incident to police as soon as he was able but had not done so by the time of the arrest due to his 'state of shock.' But convicting Wallis of failing to stop, failing to report the collision, and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position, District Judge Tan Ikram said: 'I didn't find the defendant credible in the evidence he gave.' He claimed to have left the scene of the crash out of fear of being 'raped, killed or kidnapped' due to post-traumatic stress disorder which he developed after being raped two months earlier. A local resident alerted by the noise of the crash in November 2021 told police that the Mercedes was being driven by 'a white male wearing a white long-sleeve top which was tight to the body, a black leather PVC mini-skirt, tights, dark shoes with a high heel and a pearl necklace'. Wallis was picked up by his father Daryl in a Land Rover Discovery, with police attending the 'absolutely colossal' family home and forcing entry out of concern for the MP. Pc Louis Hall found Wallis asleep, he told the trial. 'He appeared to be wearing make-up,' he said. Accusing the MP of 'fitting his own behaviour around the behaviour of PTSD', the judge said Wallis had simply made 'bad decisions'. In his statement in March 2022, Wallis said: 'I'm trans. Or to be more accurate, I want to be. 'I've been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I've felt this way since I was a very young child. 'I had no intention of ever sharing this with you. 'I always imagined I would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud. 'I was reminded of the incredible support those you work with can provide. 'Also, I was reminded how important it is to be yourself. 'I have never lived my truth and I'm not sure how. Perhaps it starts with telling everyone. 'There was a close call in April 2020 when someone blackmailed me, outed me to my father and sent photographs to other family members. 'He wanted £50,000 to keep it quiet.' Wallis subsequently told Sky News that the transition process would be 'challenging and difficult' with 'lots of hurdles', saying: 'It's not going to be done overnight, it's going to take many, many years.' But he added: 'I think now that I am out and people do know, I'm free to start that and actually go on that journey at a pace that I find comfortable.' Wallis, who at the time said he still preferred the pronouns 'he' and 'him', revealed he had felt uncomfortable with a male identity for a 'very long time'. 'About a year ago, maybe about six or eight months ago, I woke up one day and I realised actually I am no longer ashamed of this,' he told Sophy Ridge. 'This is who I am, this is what I want and actually I have waited a long time to feel that way.' Born in Bettws, a former mining village in Bridgend, Wallis attended a Catholic school before going on to read chemistry at Christ Church, Oxford. He was awarded a doctorate in astrobiology in 2014, having written a paper on evidence of panspermia – the theory that life exists throughout the universe and is distributed by objects such as asteroids and comets. He was a director of a data recovery firm before entering politics – but faced criticism after reports that a group of companies linked to him had been subject to more than 800 complaints to trading standards. At the time, Wallis disputed the figures. Wallis also faced calls for the Conservative Party to kick him out over a 'sugar daddy' website branded 'exploitative and demeaning' by a Labour MP after it emerged the page was owned and operated by a firm whose sole shareholder was a company where they were a director. He did not stand for re-election last year, putting the decision down to boundary changes – and insisting it 'isn't a case of being chased out locally'. Admitting Rishi Sunak's decision to call a July general election had been a surprise, Wallis told the BBC he would be sad to leave Parliament. 'You fall in love with this job, you'll always want another week,' he said. Wallis said he was 'actively seeking a seat elsewhere' but 'doing so with a sense of humour and a philosophical view'. 'I have never lived my truth - perhaps it starts with telling everyone' - then Tory MP Jamie Wallis's March 2022 statement Yesterday the parliamentary party had a photo in the chamber and then we went for dinner together. It was nice, especially for those of us in the '2019 intake' of MPs who haven't done anything like that before. It was lovely to speak to colleagues away from Parliament, and I appreciated the occasion for a number of reasons. I've had a lot of support from the Whips since I was elected. Not for the reasons you might think, but there's a lot that goes on in MPs lives and the Whips play an important wellbeing role – as far as I've seen they try their best to support and help MPs who are having a tough time. Well they've certainly earned their keep with me. I'm trans. Or to be more accurate, I want to be. I've been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I've felt this way since I was a very young child. I had no intention of ever sharing this with you. I always imagined I would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud. There was a close call in April 2020 when someone Blackmailed me, outed me to my father and sent photographs to other family members. He wanted £50,000 to keep quiet. The police were so supportive, so understanding and on this occasion the system worked. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 2yrs and 9mnths in prison. For a while it seemed as though I would be able to get on with things and move on. Being an MP and hiding something like this was always going to be tough, but I arrogantly assumed I was up for it. Well, I'm not. A few months back, in September, I 'hooked up' with someone who I met online and when I chose to say 'no' on the basis that he wouldn't wear a condom he chose to rape me. I have not been myself since this incident and I don't think I will ever recover. It is not something you ever forget, and it is not something you ever move on from. Since then things have really taken a tumble. I am not ok. When I crashed my car on the 28th November I fled the scene. I did so because I was terrified. I have PTSD and I honestly have no idea what I was doing except I was overcome by an overwhelming sense of fear. I am sorry that it appears I 'ran away' but this isn't how it happened in the moment. Tonight, I was reminded of the incredible support those you work with can provide. Also, I was reminded how important it is to be yourself. I have never lived my truth and I'm not sure how. Perhaps it starts with telling everyone.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Former Tory MP Jamie Wallis in court accused of harassing ex-wife
A former Conservative MP will stand trial accused of harassing their Wallis, who is now known as Katie Wallis and uses female pronouns, represented Bridgend from 2019 to 2024. The 40-year-old from Butetown in Cardiff appeared at the city's magistrates' court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to harassing Rebecca Wallis between 14 February and 21 March by making unwanted phone calls, sending unwanted messages and voice notes and driving past her evidence was offered on a previous charge of stalking. Ms Wallis, who is the first MP to openly begin the process of gender transitioning, told the court: "Legally I am known as Jamie, but I prefer to be known as Katie."Narita Bahra, defending, said she would be seeking a psychiatric report for her client ahead of the case was postponed until 17 June.
Wales Online
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Former MP on trial for harassing ex-wife
A former Conservative MP is in court today accused of harassing her ex-wife. Katie Wallis, formerly known as Jamie Wallis, was MP for Bridgend between 2019 and 2024. The politician, who is transgender and uses she/her pronouns, attended Cardiff Magistrates' Court for trial after pleading not guilty to stalking Rebecca Wallis. The 40-year-old, of Windlass Court in Butetown, Cardiff, was initially alleged to have stalked her former partner between February 15 and March 20 this year in the Welsh capital. But the court has now heard that the Crown Prosecution Service is withdrawing the stalking charge and instead bringing a charge of harassment. Between February 14 and March 21, Katie Wallis allegedly harassed Rebecca Wallis by sending unwanted messages and voice notes, making unwanted phone calls, and driving past her home. Appearing in the dock wearing a pale blue cardigan, hoop earrings and a handbag, the ex-MP pleaded not guilty to harassment. Wallis is being represented by top London barrister Narita Bahra KC. The trial is expected to begin shortly. We will have live updates from the case below.
