TLDR
- Former Conservative MP Katie Wallis admitted changing the date on an image of her own passport to get around a gambling self-ban.
- She pleaded guilty to an offence under the Computer Misuse Act at Cardiff Crown Court.
- Two counts linked to possession of a false passport were dismissed.
- She received a nine-month conditional discharge.
- The judge called it a “single impulsive” act during a period of psychological distress.
Former Conservative MP Katie Wallis has admitted changing the date on a digital image of her own passport to get past a gambling block she had placed on herself. The case was heard at Cardiff Crown Court.
Wallis represented Bridgend from 2019 to 2024 and was formerly known as Jamie Wallis. She pleaded guilty to an offence under the Computer Misuse Act, according to Wales Online.
How the Gamstop Block Was Bypassed
Prosecutor Richard Posner told the court that Wallis had a recognised gambling problem. She had signed up to Gamstop, a scheme that lets people block themselves from UK-licensed gambling websites.
In April 2022, Wallis used her own computer to change the date shown on an image of her passport. She then used the edited image to get around the self-exclusion and deposit money on a gambling website.
The money was lost. The court heard that no one else suffered any financial loss.
The passport itself was genuine and had not been altered or tampered with. Wallis did not try to use another person’s identity.
The prosecution said Wallis was in “acute psychiatric distress” at the time. It also said she had co-operated in bringing the case to a conclusion.
What the Court Decided
Two counts linked to possession of a false passport were formally dismissed. This happened after Wallis accepted the alternative computer misuse charge.
She received a nine-month conditional discharge. This means she will face no further punishment if she commits no other offences during that time.
The judge described the offence as a “single impulsive” act carried out during a “period of psychological distress.” The judge also accepted that Wallis had given “compelling personal mitigation.”
According to the BBC, the defence said Wallis was dealing with a serious mental disorder after a period of intense personal turmoil. This included coming out as transgender while serving as an MP, family separation, and publicly disclosing that she had been raped.
The case follows other recent court outcomes involving people linked to the Conservative Party and betting. Two weeks ago, three people were sentenced for offences under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005.
Former Conservative director of campaigning Anthony Lee, his wife and Conservative candidate Laura Lee, and former Conservative staffer Amy Hind all received suspended sentences. Their cases were tied to the election date betting scandal.
In a written plea, Wallis admitted to having a “problem with gambling.” The plea stated, “The defendant has not repeated this conduct.”
It added that the gambling problem “has not recurred, has not given rise to any further offending and is no longer a feature of her life.” Wallis has since reapplied to be blocked from gambling sites.
The judge warned that if Wallis were to “commit any further offence in the next nine months, then this matter can be resentenced.” The two false passport counts remain dismissed following her guilty plea.
