Rebekah Vardy news – live: Coleen Rooney’s ex-friend cries in dock over online abuse
Wife of Leicester City star continues to give evidence in High Court libel trial
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rebekah Vardy was in tears in the witness box as she was questioned about the online abuse that she and her family have received.
Coleen Rooney’s lawyer David Sherborne referenced online rape threats against Ms Vardy’s daughter, which prompted the reality start to start crying and wipe away tears from her eyes.
She grabbed a number of tissues and started dabbing at her face but insisted she didn’t need to take a break from her cross-examination.
Vardy has told the court this morning that she directed her agent to look at Coleen Rooney’s private Instagram posts after she was involved in a car crash.
The wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is continuing to give evidence at the High Court in her libel trial against Ms Rooney, the wife of former England captain Wayne.
The court was told how in a January 2019 exchange, Ms Vardy’s agent, Caroline Watt, asked her: “Am I imagining this or did you say yesterday that Coleen had crashed her Honda?” the court heard.
“She defo has ... Go in the Instagram,” Ms Vardy replied, according to court documents.
Rebekah Vardy ‘feared losing baby’ after Rooney accusation and ‘will never forgive her for ruining pregnancy’
All we know about Coleen Rooney’s lawyer who also represented Johnny Depp and the Trumps
Coleen Rooney vs Rebekah Vardy: Seven most explosive moments from first day of ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel trial
Rebekah Vardy wipes away tears in the witness box
Rebekah Vardy has started crying in the witness box as Rooney’s lawyer Sherborne talks about the trolling she and her family has faced.
Sherborne referenced online rape threats against Vardy’s daughter, which prompted the footballer’s wife to start crying and wipe away tears from her eyes.
She grabbed a number of tissues and started dabbing at her face but insisted she didn’t need to take a break from her cross-examination.
“I’m not going to take you through the trolling,” David Sherborne said.
Asked again a few moments later if she would like a break, Mrs Vardy replied: “I don’t think it’s going to make any difference, to be honest.”
Rebekah Vardy has rejected the suggestion she was building a relationship with The Sun with numerous exclusives.
Rooney’s lawyer David Sherborne put to her that she had been “consistently” giving stories to the paper.
He said: “This is the relationship you are building up with The Sun. You are consistently providing stories.”
Ms Vardy said: “I’m working with The Sun because they are going to print the story. They are going to give me the opportunity to give my story.”
She continued: “I would have done it with the Mirror, I would have done it with the Daily Mail, had I had the opportunity.”
Rebekah Vardy has rejected the suggestion she was building a relationship with The Sun with numerous exclusives.
Vardy questioned on her relationship with Sun journalists
Rebekah Vardy stood by remarks in her witness statement that she “actively avoided” forming relationships with journalists after being shown Instagram messages which revealed she planned to meet with Sun reporter Hannah Hope for lunch and set her up on a date.
David Sherborne, reading the extract from her witness statement, said: “I do not have close relationships with any journalist at The Sun newspaper.
“I actively avoid developing relationships with journalists because I assume they would be making friends with me to obtain stories.”
He added: “Was what we see with Hannah Hope you actively developing a relationship with her?”
“I would not say that was developing a relationship”’ Ms Vardy said. When previously asked if she was “befriending” Ms Hope, Ms Vardy said she was “just being nice to her on Instagram”.
Mr Sherborne, in describing the exchanges between Ms Vardy and Ms Hope, said: “You suggested lunch, that you would set her up with someone.”
Rebekah Vardy is being cross-examined about whether a ‘Wag’ photo at the 2018 Russia world cup was staged
Lawyer David Sherborne is arguing that a photo taken of all the footballer’s wives after a group dinner at the Russia world cup was staged.
“This is the 2018 world cup in Russia,” Sherborne said. “You are in St Petersburg, yes, a number of partners of players went out for a meal in a restaurant. The night before, I think it was, the belgian match.
“What we see here is that the dinner gets reported the next day… there’s the line up we see,” he said, referring to a line-up photo of the footballer’s wives.
“Then we see the photo.. And then its credited to Splash news,” he said.
The day before the dinner, Rebekah Vardy’s agent Caroline Watt whatsapped her saying: “Got a photographer sorted for tomorrow night too.”
Rebekah Vardy told the court that this “was a reference to a photographer outside of the hotel. She arranged a photographer to take some pictures of me outside of the hotel.”
Court has risen for the day
Day two of the Rebekah Vardy vs Coleen Rooney libel trial has come to a close.
A fire alarm message in a nearby block of the High Court put an early stop to proceedings, as the court struggled to hear Rebekah Vardy over the announcements.
The court will resume at 10:30 tomorrow.
Rebekah Vardy cries in dock as court hears details of online abuse
In case you missed it..
Rebekah Vardy cried in the witness box while giving evidence in the so-called Wagatha Christie trial on Wednesday as she recalled rape threats targeting her daughter.
The mother-of-five broke down as Coleen Rooney’s lawyer David Sherborne mentioned the trolling and online abuse she and her family had faced, following Mrs Rooney’s claims she leaked stories about the fellow footballer’s wife.
Sherborne referenced online rape threats against Vardy’s daughter, which prompted the footballer’s wife to start crying and wipe away tears from her eyes.
She grabbed a number of tissues and started dabbing at her face but insisted she didn’t need to take a break from her cross-examination during the libel trial between the former friends.
Wagatha Christie: Rebekah Vardy cries in dock as court hears details of online abuse
Rebekah Vardy broke down in tears while recounting the horrific abuse she has received online
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.