Ex-Tory MP given community order and fine for harassing ex-wife

BBC News

6 days ago

A former Conservative MP has been given a community order and fine for harassing her ex-wife. Jamie Wallis, who is now known as Katie Wallis and uses female pronouns, represented Bridgend from 2019 to 2024.At an earlier hearing, the 41-year-old from Butetown in Cardiff denied harassing Rebecca Wallis, now known as Rebecca Lovell, between 14 February and 21 March.Wallis was sentenced to a 12-month community order involving 12 days of rehabilitation activity and fined £500 plus £650 costs and a £114 surcharge.
A restraining order was also imposed for 12 months to prevent contact with Rebecca Lovell.The former MP made unwanted phone calls, sent unwanted messages and a voice note.Cardiff Magistrates Court heard that the messages contained abusive language while accusing Rebecca Lovell of being "mean" and seeking to find out details about her new relationship.One message complained about access to Wallis's family, another demanded £350,000 within 15 minutes and wished to ensure that Wallis's former wife and others "never have a happy moment again".Wallis, who was the first MP to openly begin the process of gender transitioning, previously told the court: "My name is Katie Wallis, but my legal name is Jamie Wallis".
District Judge Rhys Williams asked Wallis's barrister how he should address the defendant. Defending, Narita Bahra KC told the court that Wallis identifies as she, "her dead name is Jamie. Her current name is Katie". Wallis and the victim were in a relationship for more than 15 years and separated in 2020, with their divorce finalised in 2024.In a personal impact statement, Rebecca Lovell said the messages left her "drowning in a chaos that was not of my own making" and concerned that Wallis would turn up at her house. She said she was left wondering if threats of suicide were real. "I torture myself wondering if I deserve the vile slurs," she said. She added, "I can't remember a day I haven't cried. The woman I used to be has been destroyed."
Narita Bahra KC told the court that her client was "having profound and emotional difficulties in completing the passing stage" of transitioning to become a woman, but accepts that the behaviour was "wrong". Ms Bahra said that Wallis was at a "crucial turning point" in the transitioning process and in "profound mental crisis" when the messages were sent and that there was acceptance of wrongdoing and apology in the final message.Shortly after the final message was sent, Wallis was found by police and sectioned under the mental health act before being arrested and later charged.Ms Bahra told the court it was "really disappointing that South Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have shown no compassion" by pursuing a prosecution.She added it was "disillusioning and disappointing that South Wales Police and the CPS demonstrated a lack of understanding" to what she said were the "unique stresses" of transitioning.