Kate Wallis, 41, former MP for Bridgend in South Wales, sent a number of abusive messages to former wife Rebecca Lovell and rang her demanding £350,000 in her bank account in 15 minutes
A former Tory MP who harassed her ex-wife has been spared jail.
Katie Wallis, 41, was handed a community order after Cardiff Magistrates’ Court was shown abusive messages sent to former partner Rebecca Lovell. Wallis, the MP for Bridgend in South Wales from 2019 to 2024, demanded £350,000 be put into her bank account within 15 minutes during one call.
The court heard the politician, who became the first openly transgender MP in the House of Commons in 2022, prompted the victim to get CCTV installed at her home. Wallis, formerly known as Jamie, sent abusive messages and said she hoped Ms Lovell and her father “never have a happy moment again”.
The couple split in 2020, with the divorce finalised in 2024. In a victim impact statement, which was read to the court, Ms Lovell said: “This is the hardest thing I have written, for so long I have had to fight against the tide of Jamie’s behaviour, publicly and privately.”
She added: “The woman I used to be is destroyed. I will never understand what I have done to deserve the hurt I have endured.” Ms Lovell described the last six months as “utterly devastating” and said she was living her life as an “overstimulated adult constantly in fight or flight”.
She said she feared Wallis turning up at her home, leading her to have CCTV installed. Wallis, who was wearing a black dress, looked down as the statement was read to the court.
Narita Bahra KC, appearing for the former MP, said Wallis uses female pronouns, referring to Jamie as her “deadname”. She argued it was “disappointing” the case had come to court, criticising South Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for not dealing with the issue outside the court.
Ms Bahra argued it was “unequivocal” that Wallis had been suffering from mental health difficulties at the time of the offending, partly brought on by their transitioning.
She also said Wallis was suffering from PTSD, a depressive disorder and an adjustment disorder. District Judge Rhys Williams handed Wallis a 12-month community order to be carried out over 12 days and a fine worth £1,264.
Wallis, who pleaded guilty to leaving the messages at a hearing in June, initially denied the charges, but changed her plea when allegations of having driven by her ex-wife’s home were removed from the charge.
READ MORE: Join our Mirror politics WhatsApp group to get the latest updates from Westminster