Katie Wallis, the former Conservative MP and Britain’s first openly transgender parliamentarian, has been sentenced to a 12-month community order after admitting to harassing her ex-wife, Rebecca Lovell, formerly known as Rebecca Wallis. The sentencing took place on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.
Wallis, 41, who represented the Bridgend constituency in South Wales from 2019 to 2024, was found guilty of sending a series of harassing messages and leaving a voice note that targeted Ms Lovell with abusive language and demands. The court heard that Wallis sent four messages and left one voice note, containing insults and accusations that ranged from calling Ms Lovell "mean" to demanding information about her new partner.
One particularly aggressive message, sent on February 25, 2025, from an unknown phone number, demanded that Ms Lovell transfer £350,000 into Wallis’s bank account within 15 minutes. In another message, Wallis referred to Ms Lovell and her father as "prejudiced f***," expressing a hope that they "never have a happy moment again." The messages also included vulgar insults such as calling Ms Lovell a "c" and a "f****** bitch," and accusing her of "cock hunting."
The couple had separated in 2020, with their divorce finalized four years later in 2024. The harassment, however, continued beyond their separation, leaving a profound impact on Ms Lovell. In a victim impact statement read aloud in court, Ms Lovell described the last six months as "utterly devastating," revealing that she lived in constant fear of Wallis turning up at her home. This fear led her to install CCTV for protection. She poignantly stated, "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."
Wallis, who appeared in court wearing a black dress, looked down as the statement was read. Her defense was led by Narita Bahra KC, who emphasized that Wallis uses female pronouns and referred to "Jamie" as her "deadname." Bahra criticized South Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for not resolving the issue outside of court, calling it "disappointing" that the case escalated to this point.
The defense also highlighted Wallis’s mental health struggles at the time of the offenses, linking them partly to her gender transition. Bahra detailed that Wallis was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a depressive disorder, and an adjustment disorder. Despite these difficulties, Bahra stressed that Wallis was remorseful and did not seek to excuse her actions.
Wallis’s final message to Ms Lovell was notably different in tone, asking for help and claiming she was experiencing pain in her temples. She also expressed a desire for her father to pay for someone to hold her hand during this difficult time. Following these events, police found Wallis and sectioned her under the Mental Health Act before arresting and charging her.
Wallis initially denied the harassment charges but changed her plea to guilty at a hearing in June 2025 after allegations of driving by Ms Lovell’s home were dropped. The court imposed a 12-month community order, to be served over 12 days, alongside a fine of £1,264. Additionally, a 12-month restraining order was issued, preventing Wallis from contacting Ms Lovell.
This sentencing marks a somber chapter for the former MP, who made history in 2022 as the UK’s first openly transgender Member of Parliament. Despite her groundbreaking role in politics, Wallis’s recent actions have cast a shadow over her public image and personal life.
Wallis was previously convicted of driving offenses in 2022 after crashing a car into a telegraph pole and fleeing the scene, adding to her troubled recent history. The case has sparked conversations about the intersection of mental health, gender identity, and legal accountability.
District Judge Rhys Williams, who presided over the case, underscored the seriousness of the harassment while also acknowledging the mitigating circumstances presented by the defense. The judge’s decision to impose a community order rather than a custodial sentence reflects a balance between punishment and recognition of Wallis’s mental health challenges.
As the community order and restraining order take effect, the focus now shifts to how Wallis will navigate her future, both personally and publicly, following this difficult period. The case serves as a reminder that even trailblazing figures are not immune to the complexities and consequences of personal struggles.
