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Rebekah Vardy – live: Coleen Rooney’s triumphant messages to friends after ‘Wagatha Christie’ reveal post

It comes after Wayne Rooney told court he was asked to speak to Jamie Vardy to ‘calm down’ wife

Rebekah Vardy tells court she did not leak stories about Coleen Rooney

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Coleen Rooney posted triumphant messages to her friends after she accused Rebekah Vardy’s account of being behind leaks of her personal information to The Sun, new photos show.

In previously unseen images, Coleen Rooney told her Instagram followers “Don’t play games with a girl who can play better” after she posted her infamous ‘Wagatha Christie’ message on 19 October 2019.

She added: “After years of my personal Instagram posts getting leaked to the SUN newspaper..... I’ve finally cracked it and know exactly who’s account it is !!!!.”

Ms Rooney, 36, is being sued for defamation by Ms Vardy, 40, over the offending post. The images of Coleen Rooney’s Instagram posts were submitted as evidence to the High Court during Ms Vardy’s libel trial.

On the last day of the trial yesterday, Ms Rooney’s lawyer accused Ms Vardy of carrying out a “cover up” to hide “incriminating evidence” ahead of the trial.

Ms Vardy’s lawyer accused Ms Rooney’s side of furthering “conspiracy theories” about the model allegedly deleting key message exchanges between herself and her agent Caroline Watt.

Mr Hugh Tomlinson said the footballer’s wife “accepts” her agent could have been the source of leaks to the press.

Ms Justice Steyn has now retired to consider her judgement in the case.

Who’s who in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ case

There are around half a dozen key figures in the case, including lesser known names such as Caroline Watt and David Sherborne.

We have compiled a hand guide to the individuals involved:

Who’s who in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ case

The seven day trial is due to begin on Tuesday.

Tom Batchelor19 May 2022 03:44

How the Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy row unfolded

After months of legal wrangling, the much anticipated “Wagatha Christie” High Court libel trial is set to conclude.

Here is how the public row between footballers’ wives Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy unfolded over the past two and a half years:

How the Wagatha Christie row unfolded

Here’s how the public row between the footballers’ wives erupted over the past two and a half years

Tom Batchelor19 May 2022 01:44

What to expect on Thursday

The final day of court proceedings begins on Thursday at 10.30am.

Barristers for both women are expected to give their closing speeches at the Royal Courts Of Justice.

We will have latest updates throughout the day in this blog.

Tom Batchelor18 May 2022 22:49

Timeline: What happened in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case?

The Wagatha Christie burst into the public conciousness on 19 October 2019 when Coleen Rooney took to Twitter to issue an astonishing attack on Rebekah Vardy, accusing her of betraying her confidence in pursuit of personal gain.

Here Joe Sommerlad gives a full run down of everything that has happened since:

What happened in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case?

Footballers’ wives at High Court to settle long-running defamation dispute

Zoe Tidman18 May 2022 14:25

Barristers for both Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy are expected to give their closing speeches on the final day of the case on Thursday, after a break today.

Rooney accused Vardy of leaking "false stories" about her private life in October 2019 after she said she carried out a months-long "sting operation" which saw her dubbed "Wagatha Christie".

Vardy denies the allegations and has sued the fellow footballer's wife for damages for libel over the "untrue and unjustified defamatory attack".

Chris Baynes18 May 2022 14:22

Trial to resume on Thursday

There will be no hearing today at the High Court in Rebekah Vardy’s libel trial against Coleen Rooney.

It is expected that both Hugh Tomlinson QC, for Rebekah Vardy, and David Sherborne, for Coleen Rooney, will give their closing speeches on Thursday.

Mrs Justice Steyn is expected to give her decision in writing at a later date.

Chris Baynes18 May 2022 09:00

Wayne Rooney ‘talking nonsense’ in evidence, Jamie Vardy claims

Jamie Vardy has accused his former England teammate Wayne Rooney of “talking nonsense” in his evidence to the Wagatha Christie trial.

Rooney had told the High Court the team’s manager Roy Hodgson asked him to speak to the Leicester City striker to get him to “calm down” his wife Rekebah during Euro 2016.

In a statement issued by Vardy's representatives outside the hearing, the footballer said: "Wayne is talking nonsense.

"He must be confused because he never spoke to me about issues concerning Becky's media work at Euro 2016.

"There was nothing to speak about, I know this because I discuss everything with Becky."

Chris Baynes18 May 2022 08:44

All we know about Coleen Rooney’s lawyer

With a reputation as a barrister the rich and famous turn to for legal assistance, Coleen Rooney’s hotshot lawyer David Sherbrone’s previous client list includes Diana, Princess of Wales, Hollywood actor Michael Douglas and former prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.

Here’s all we know about Mr Sherbrone, who has also represented Johnny Depp and the Trumps:

All we know about Coleen Rooney’s lawyer who represented Johnny Depp and the Trumps

David Sherborne has a history of representing the rich and famous in high-profile libel cases

Stuti Mishra18 May 2022 08:00

Who is Rebekah Vardy’s lawyer?

As the Wagatha Christie libel case is underway in London, all eyes are on the man heading up Rebekah Vardy’s legal team.

Hugh Tomlinson, born in Leeds in 1954, is an experienced media barrister, first called to the bar in 1983.

He has a long career of fighting libel cases on behalf of celebrities and public figures, including he Prince of Wales and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Tom Ambrose has more details here:

All we know about Rebekah Vardy’s ‘super injunction’ barrister Hugh Tomlinson

Rebekah Vardy’s legal representative has a long career of fighting libel cases on behalf of celebrities and public figures

Stuti Mishra18 May 2022 07:00

ICYMI: Wayne Rooney describes ‘traumatic’ impact of Vardy case on wife Coleen

Wayne Rooney has described the “traumatic” impact of the last two-and-a-half years on his wife Coleen as he gave evidence on the penultimate day of the “Wagatha Christie” libel trial.

Mr Rooney told the court that the period after his wife’s “reveal” post had been “very traumatic” for her and that he had watched her “really struggle”.

“For me and my wife, we don’t want to be in this court,” Mr Rooney said.

Jess Glass has the full story:

Wayne Rooney describes ‘traumatic’ impact of Vardy case on wife Coleen

The high-profile libel trial, which is not sitting on Wednesday, is due to end on Thursday.

Stuti Mishra18 May 2022 06:00

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