UNHAPPY SNAP
Rebekah Vardy ‘set up photo of England WAGs’ at World Cup in Russia leaving footballers’ wives fuming
REBEKAH Vardy has been accused of lying after she denied setting up paparazzi shots of England players' wives and girlfriends during the 2018 World Cup.
The mum-of-five, who wept on the stand today, says she didn't tip off photographers as she was quizzed by Coleen Rooney's lawyer on day three of the bombshell Wagatha Christie trial.
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Harry Maguire’s fiancé Fern Hawkins was among those angry over the snaps, taken during the contest in Russia.
Fern said she was “embarrassed, not prepared and had not expected to be put in that position”, it was heard. The Football Association and England players also complained about the photograph, it was said.
But Rebekah told the court today it was actually Annie Kilner, wife of Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker, who suggested they go out for a photograph.
She left the witness box in tears after a day of jabs from Coleen's barrister David Sherborne.
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After complaints of poor form from Rebekah's lawyer Hugh Tomlinson, judge Mrs Justice Steyn said Mr Sherborne's comments were "unnecessary".
But moments later, Rebekah was in tears again. She put her head in her hands as she said: "There's been a lot of abuse."
The day began with Mr Sherborne claiming Rebekah was being untruthful about a night out in St Petersburg during the World Cup.
Rebekah said her memory of what happened on the night of the photo had been affected by "drinking quite a bit".
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But Mr Sherborne replied: "You can't get your story straight because you're lying."
Coleen smirked and poked husband Wayne in the arm with a pencil as Becky was accused.
It's alleged Rebekah's agent Caroline Watt had already messaged to say she'd arranged a photographer for the night out.
Rebekah reportedly replied over WhatsApp: "We may have to walk to restaurant from hotel now... so might be a good pic of us walking down it’s about 10 to 15 mins away."
Just over 90 minutes later, Becky sent another message which read: "On the way down in the restaurant car." The agent said: "Hopefully he catches you all! Don't forget to take a group shot."
In another message, Rebekah said: "F***, made everyone go outside for a pic and the pap was there... Looks like I tipped him off now.
"Girls have asked me to put it on Insta, so quick, get them out - they want me to put it up before the pap puts his in! I've bought about 10 mins."
This morning in court, she said: "If I had intentionally arranged the picture... I would quite happily admit that I had."
Moments later, Mr Sherborne accused her of "pulling a face" when he asked if she'd been in trouble with the Football Association's family liaison officer, Harpreet Robertson, over the images.
Rebekah has previously claimed Harpreet took an instant dislike to her.
'SELECTIVE AMNESIA' BLAST
She was then accused of having "selective amnesia" after denying that she called herself the "unofficial leader of the WAGs" in an interview about a no-sex ban for players.
The article said England's successful run in the tournament was down to Gareth Southgate "giving the lads the freedom to score - with their wives and girlfriends".
It featured a picture of Rebekah naked and draped in the England flag, but she said the quote about her "leadership" was made up by her interviewer.
And she also said she hadn't spoken with journalists during the visit to Russia - because she was too busy washing her clothes in the sink.
"I was busy with the kids and under so much stress," she said.
"We even had to wash our own clothes in the sink at the hotel."
A High Court judge heard today:
- Rebekah Vardy was accused of having "selective amnesia" as she denied dubbing herself the "unofficial leader of the WAGs"
- She was accused of lying about a "staged" photo of fellow wives and girlfriends at the 2018 World Cup in Russia amid claims she "orchestrated" it
- Instead, she said she was too busy washing her clothes in the sink of the hotel room during the tournament to speak with press
- Coleen Rooney's barrister then accused her of trying to distance herself from her "strong links" with journalists
- He suggested she'd sent Coleen "disingenuous messages" that she'd been hacked by journalists in a bid to "throw her off the scent"
- Becky also denied leaking a story that Coleen had been in a car crash in Washington DC - but admitted agent Caroline Watt may have done
- She said she hadn't responded to a message from Miss Watt said "I did it" because she was distracted by Gemma Collins falling over on Dancing On Ice
- Mrs Rooney smirked and poked husband Wayne in the arm with a pencil as Rebekah was accused of telling untruths
- But Rebekah later put her head in her hands and wept after facing a day of jabs from Coleen's lawyer
- Outside of the courtroom, Peter Andre posted a video saying he felt "vulnerable" after the size of his manhood was discussed during the trial
The court heard the FA were "worried" about the wives and girlfriends "drawing too much attention" during the World Cup.
"If I'm being honest, I can't remember that at all," she said.
Mr Sherborne fired back: "Well, I would much rather you were honest, because you are in a witness box under oath."
Her bruising cross-examination continued into the afternoon, when she admitted Miss Watt may have leaked a 2019 story that Coleen had been involved in a car crash in Washington DC.
After the frightening smash, Coleen had posted a picture of her badly damaged Honda on her private Instagram account, the court heard.
'IT WAS ME'
She publicly told of her fury after the story was leaked to the press.
Miss Watt messaged Rebekah: "Such a victim. Poor Coleen... it wasn't someone she trusted. It was me."
Rebekah says she didn't reply to the message as she was "distracted" by Gemma Collins falling over on Dancing on Ice.
Coleen unfollowed Rebekah on Instagram after the crash because she suspected her of spilling to the media. It prompted Rebekah to call her a "c***" in messages to Miss Watt.
The court has already heard Miss Watt is not fit to give oral evidence to the trial, and will not be quizzed.
She lost her phone in the North Sea days after she was ordered to turn it over to the court.
This afternoon, the court burst into laughter as Rebekah admitted she didn't know who Davy Jones was when being quizzed over that incident.
Coleen's team has already accused Rebekah of getting rid of key evidence that they allege would prove she leaked stories.
'DAVY JONES HAS HER PHONE'
Mr Sherborne asked her: "We know that Miss Watt's phone is now in Davy Jones' Locker, don't we, Mrs Vardy?"
Rebekah then replied: "I'm sorry, I don't know who Davy Jones is." As people in the room laughed, the judge had to explain the reference.
It was heard on Tuesday that Miss Watt is likely the "conduit" for the alleged leaks.
Mr Sherborne also claimed Rebekah tried to "throw Coleen off the scent" with "disingenuous" messages claiming her Instagram had been hacked by journalists.
Rebekah said in a private message: "Oh my God. What the f*** is wrong with people?
"Why have they taken that one of you and the kids and not of Wayne in bed? That would have been an even better one in their eyes. D***heads. Hope you're OK.'
He suggested Rebekah "knew the finger of suspicion" was going to be pointed at her.
"You knew perfectly well that you had been the source of this story through Caroline Watt," he said.
"You're trying to throw Mrs Rooney off the scent, aren't you?"
Coleen and Rebekah have been at war since October 2019, when Coleen publicly accused her rival of leaking "false stories" about her private life after a month-long "sting operation".
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The 40-year-old, who is married to striker Jamie Vardy, denies the accusations and is now suing for libel.
Under English defamation law, the burden of proof now will be on Coleen to prove that her post was "substantially true". The trial continues.
The headlines so far
- Rebekah Vardy branded Coleen Rooney a "school bully" who wanted to make her "feel paranoid"
- The mum-of-five stared down Coleen in the courtroom as she denied leaking any stories about her
- It was heard that Harry Maguire's girlfriend was "furious" with Becky amid claims she'd set up paparazzi
- And bombshell WhatsApp messages were released showing Rebekah called Wayne Rooney a "c***"
- Peter Andre has also spoken out after he was dragged into the fray
- He said today he felt "vulnerable" after the size of his manhood was discussed during the trial
- As the second day of evidence got under way yesterday, it was revealed Becky allegedly told her agent to leak a story about a high-profile celeb's affair
- But she said messages urging her agent to give information to the press were just "jokes" and "gossip"
- And she admitted branding Danielle Lloyd a 'nasty b***h'
- She also wept as she told the court of the abuse she's suffered at the hands of evil trolls who threatened to rape her daughter
- Coleen's lawyer accused her of "pulling a face" moments after accusing her of lying this morning
- In lighter news, Rooney's court sketch had football fans in stitches
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