Rebekah Vardy trial - live: Jamie Vardy says Wayne Rooney ‘talking nonsense’ in court

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, whose media work was said to be causing a distraction during Euro 2016.

In a statement issued by Vardy's representatives outside the hearing on Tuesday, 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.

The Vardy’s later left court early because “Mrs Vardy isn’t feeling very well”, her lawyer said.

They did not return to the courtroom after a mid-afternoon break as both sides’ lawyers quizzed expert IT witnesses about how evidence in the trial, particularly Whatsapps between Ms Vardy and her agent, was recovered.

Key Points

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

• Wayne Rooney says he asked Jamie Vardy to get Rebekah to ‘calm down’ during Euros 2016

• Coleen has ‘become a different mother, a different wife’, Wayne Rooney said

• Jamie Vardy holds hands with his wife Rebekah as they arrive at the High Court

• What happened in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case?

• Highlights from day six

What happened last?

08:40 , Zoe Tidman

Before day seven of the trial gets going, here is a reminder of what happened on day six:

Day six ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial highlights as Wayne Rooney testifies

Wagatha Christie case to draw to a close

08:11 , Zoe Tidman

The trial is due to draw to a close today.

Lawyers for both Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney are set to make their closing arguments to the High Court.

It is expected to kick back off again at 10.30am. Stay tuned.

Opinion: If Wagatha Christie has taught us anything, it’s to never underestimate the power of the ‘unfollow’

06:44 , Tom Batchelor

The longer time you spend on social media, the more people you will have annoyed, writes Sunny Hundal.

That’s my theory. Since I can’t expect everyone to agree with everything I say, the equation is simple: more opinions = more haters. And as someone who has been very online and very opinionated for about 20 years, believe me I have accumulated a lot of haters.

Here is his piece:

Opinion: Use social media? Take heed from Wagatha Christie

Who’s who in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ case

03:44 , Tom Batchelor

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

How the Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy row unfolded

01:44 , Tom Batchelor

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

What to expect on Thursday

Wednesday 18 May 2022 22:49 , Tom Batchelor

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.

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

Wednesday 18 May 2022 14:25 , Zoe Tidman

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?

Wednesday 18 May 2022 14:22 , Chris Baynes

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".

Trial to resume on Thursday

Wednesday 18 May 2022 09:00 , Chris Baynes

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.

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

Wednesday 18 May 2022 08:44 , Chris Baynes

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."

All we know about Coleen Rooney’s lawyer

Wednesday 18 May 2022 08:00 , Stuti Mishra

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

Who is Rebekah Vardy’s lawyer?

Wednesday 18 May 2022 07:00 , Stuti Mishra

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

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

Wednesday 18 May 2022 06:00 , Stuti Mishra

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

Coleen Rooney-Rebekah Vardy timeline: Everything that’s happened in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case

Wednesday 18 May 2022 05:00 , Stuti Mishra

My colleague Joe Sommerlad has put together this timeline of the case between the two footballers’ wives, from that infamous moment 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.

What happened in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case?

ICYMI: Coleen has become ‘a different mother, a different wife’ because of trial, Wayne Rooney says

Wednesday 18 May 2022 04:00 , Chiara Giordano

Wayne Rooney has said his wife Coleen has “become a different mother, a different wife” because of the stress of the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel trial.

Speaking from the witness stand at the High Court on Tuesday, the former England captain and Derby County manager said he and his wife “don’t want to be in this court”.

Holly Bancroft has the full story:

Coleen is ‘a different mother, a different wife’ because of trial, Wayne Rooney says

ICYMI: Wayne Rooney says he asked Jamie Vardy to ‘calm down’ wife at Euro 2016 at request of England manager

Wednesday 18 May 2022 02:00 , Chiara Giordano

On the sixth day of the trial, Wayne Rooney told the High Court he asked Jamie Vardy to "calm down" his wife at the request of England manager Roy Hodgson during the Euros in 2016.

Mr Rooney said he was asked to intervene over the media attention Ms Vardy had been receiving during the tournament.

Matt Mathers has the full story:

Ex-England manager ‘told Jamie Vardy told to calm down’ wife at Euro 2016

ICYMI: Rebekah Vardy vs Coleen Rooney: a breakdown of their courthouse style

Wednesday 18 May 2022 00:01 , Chiara Giordano

As the trial continues at the Royal Courts of Justice, Saman Javed has taken a closer look at the footballers’ wives courthouse style.

Both women have stuck to a muted colour palette so far, opting for either black, white or dark blue hues.

It is suggested Rooney and Vardy are likely using their clothing to communicate the seriousness and importance of the trial.

Rebekah Vardy vs Coleen Rooney: A breakdown of their courthouse style

Day six highlights

Tuesday 17 May 2022 22:00 , Chiara Giordano

Holly Bancroft, who has been at the High Court in London for The Independent, has pulled together the key highlights to come from day six of the explosive trial:

Day six ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial highlights as Wayne Rooney testifies

No hearing tomorrow

Tuesday 17 May 2022 20:22 , Chiara Giordano

There will be no hearing taking place at the High Court on Wednesday.

It is now expected 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.

Highlights from day six

Tuesday 17 May 2022 18:17 , Holly Bancroft

All the evidence has now been heard in the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial at the High Court. Here are the highlights from day six:

- Wayne Rooney told the High Court that he had an “awkward” conversation with Jamie Vardy to get his wife to “calm down” her media activities during Euro 2016 at the request of the England manager.

- Mr Rooney said that Coleen has “become a different mother, a different wife” because of the stress of the libel trial.

- England’s top goalscorer said that he “didn’t want to get involved” with his wife’s social media sting, saying she is “an independent woman who does her own thing.”

- Coleen Rooney’s fake Instagram stories, which she used to run her sting operation, were revealed at the High Court.

- Wayne Rooney’s cousin Claire said she was referred to as “chavvy” in a WhatsApp message exchange between Rebekah Vardy and her agent.

- Splash news photographer said Ms Vardy knew all about leaks to the press, PR exec testified.

- Rebekah Vardy and her husband Jamie left her High Court libel trial early on Tuesday. One of Ms Vardy’s legal team told the court that they left early because “Mrs Vardy isn’t feeling very well”.

- Defence witness Mr Matthew Blackband queried Ms Vardy’s account that her computer crashed when she tried to upload her Whatsapp chats with her agent and that’s why she lost key messages. “Based on the information that has been provided I would suggest that this is a manual deletion,” he said.

ICYMI: Coleen Rooney has become ‘a different mother, a different wife’ because of trial

Tuesday 17 May 2022 17:46 , Tom Batchelor

Wayne Rooney has said that his wife Coleen has “become a different mother, a different wife” because of the stress of the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel trial.

Speaking from the witness stand at the High Court on Tuesday, the former England captain and Derby County manager said they he and his wife “don’t want to be in this court”.

Here is the story:

Coleen is ‘a different mother, a different wife’ because of trial, Wayne Rooney says

Court rises

Tuesday 17 May 2022 16:58 , Holly Bancroft

The court has risen for the day. That concludes all the evidence in Rebekah Vardy’s libel trail against Coleen Rooney.

The trial will return on Thursday morning to hear closing arguments.

Voices: True to form, at the Wagatha Christie trial Wayne Rooney may have just decided the game

Tuesday 17 May 2022 16:51 , Holly Bancroft

Political sketch writer Tom Peck has delivered his verdict on day six of the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial. He writes:

“The witness box of Court 13 is far from the only box into which Wayne Rooney has made a well-timed late arrival, and the results were typically devastating.

Manchester United and England’s record goal scorer was the penultimate witness in his wife’s defence, and though we can’t know yet, it’s quite possible he’s decided the game.

At the latter stages of their careers, once-rampaging attackers like Rooney have to learn to play a little bit smarter. Their all action days are over. They can’t always track back. Instead they must conserve their energy, they must wait for the moment and then, wallop! They pounce.

Which is exactly what Wayne Rooney did.”

Read the full piece here:

True to form, Wayne Rooney may have just decided the game

‘I would suggest that this is a manual deletion’, expert on Ms Vardy’s messages

Tuesday 17 May 2022 16:27 , Holly Bancroft

Defence witness Mr Matthew Blackband has queried Ms Vardy’s account that her computer crashed when she tried to upload her Whatsapp chats with her agent and that’s why she lost key messages.

“I’m putting to you that that’s possible,” Ms Vardy lawyer said.

“I cannot see how that is possible,” Mr Blackband replied.

“Based on the information that has been provided I would suggest that this is a manual deletion,” he said.

Referring to the alleged computer crash, Mr Blackband told the court: “I cannot see how that would be an explanation as the download the data has already occurred, a zip file has been formed.”

“I’ve not been able to identify a process that would cause that to happen.

“There would have to be a corruption of the database, which would mean that Whatsapp would not work,” he continued.

Pictured: The Vardys leave court early

Tuesday 17 May 2022 15:55 , Holly Bancroft

Rebekah Vardy and her husband Jamie have left her High Court libel trial early. Ms Vardy’s lawyer told the court that Ms Vardy wasn’t “feeling very well”.

Tuesday 17 May 2022 15:39 , Holly Bancroft

An expert instructed by Rebekah Vardy found it “surprising” that there was an “absence” of WhatsApp messages between her and agent Caroline Watt after Ms Vardy tried to export messages from her device to her solicitors, the High Court was told.

Ian Henderson was asked a series of questions in court by Coleen Rooney’s barrister David Sherborne about Ms Vardy’s data, which the lawyer suggested had been “deleted” or “lost”.

Mr Sherborne put it to the expert that he described the “absence of this data being caused by the uploading process” as “somewhat surprising”, with Mr Henderson agreeing that he remembered saying that.

“Clearly by surprised you’re saying that that is not what you would expect to have happened?” Mr Sherborne added.

“That is correct,” Mr Henderson replied.

The Vardys leave early because ‘Mrs Vardy isn’t feeling very well'

Tuesday 17 May 2022 15:29 , Holly Bancroft

One of Ms Vardy’s legal team has told the court that Rebekah Vardy and her husband Jamie have left early because “Mrs Vardy isn’t feeling very well”.

Tuesday 17 May 2022 15:23 , Holly Bancroft

Expert witness Ian Henderson is now giving evidence for Rebekah Vardy.

Ms Rooney’s lawyer David Sherborne asked Mr Henderson whether it was likely that Ms Vardy’s account had been “compromised” for a period of time.

Mr Henderson said: “I’m aware that at least one other person had access to Ms Vardy’s account”, but said that he could not conclude that Ms Vardy’s account was compromised.

Recap: Coleen has become ‘a different mother, a different wife’ because of trial, Wayne Rooney says

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:55 , Holly Bancroft

Wayne Rooney has said that his wife Coleen has “become a different mother, a different wife” because of the stress of the ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel trial.

Speaking from the witness stand at the High Court on Tuesday, the former England captain and Derby County manager said they he and his wife “don’t want to be in this court”.

“I’ve watched my wife over the last two and a half years really struggle with everything ... becoming a different mother, a different wife,” he said.

“It’s been been very traumatic for my wife.”

Read the full story here:

Coleen is ‘a different mother, a different wife’ because of trial, Wayne Rooney says

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:44 , Holly Bancroft

Ms Adaarewa has said she recalled Splash news photographer saying that Ms Vardy knew that her Instagram account was being used to leak stories to the press.

In her written statement, Ms Adaarewa said: “I specially recall Danny saying that Mrs Vardy was not only aware that Danny has a means of access to her account but also that she was well aware that access had been and was being used to take content and pass it to the press.”

She continued: “This much was abundantly clear to me from listening to the exchange, though there was no express discussion of Mrs Vardy personally benefitting from a financial perspective and it would therefore be speculative for me to suggest so.”

Splash news photographer said Ms Vardy knew all about leaks to the press, PR exec says

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:25 , Holly Bancroft

Penelope Adaarewa, a PR executive, is being asked about a meeting she attended with a photographer called Danny Hayward, director of Splash News, and a mystery Mr Y - a figure in the media industry.

During the meeting Ms Adaarewa overheard a phone call, which was on speaker phone, between Mr Y and Mr Hayward. She was included in the phone call, and was introduced to Mr Hayward by Mr Y, but said that the pair started having what seemed to her was a private conversation in front of her.

In her written witness statement, Ms Adaarewa said: “I specifically recall Danny saying that others knew he had a means of access to the account and it seemed clear to me that included Becky Vardy. In his discussion with Y about the fallout from Mrs Rooney’s recent revelations.

“I recall he used the words to the effect of “But she is sticking to her story that she knew nothing about it” which he said clearly believing that Mrs Vardy did in fact know all about the passing on of information from her Instagram account and that her denial was disingenuous.”

The defence calls their last witness, Penelope Adaarewa

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:05 , Holly Bancroft

Penelope Adaarewa, a PR executive, is being asked about a meeting she attended after the “media storm” that resulted from Coleen Rooney’s ‘Wagatha Christie’ post.

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:03 , Holly Bancroft

The Rooneys and the Vardys are now seated in court after the lunch break. Rebekah Vardy was resting her head on her husband Jamie’s shoulder, and Coleen and Wayne Rooney were consulting something on Coleen’s phone.