Katie Wallis, a former Conservative MP, admitted to modifying the date on an image of her passport to circumvent a gambling self-exclusion scheme and gain access to an online betting site, as revealed in Cardiff Crown Court.
Wallis, who represented Bridgend from 2019 to 2024 and was previously known as Jamie Wallis, pleaded guilty under the Computer Misuse Act. The court dismissed two counts related to possession of a false passport after she accepted a lesser charge. She received a conditional discharge for nine months, which means no additional punishment will be imposed if she does not commit further offences during this time.
Prosecutor Richard Posner explained that Wallis had a recognized gambling addiction and had used Gamstop, a self-exclusion scheme for UK-licensed gambling websites. During a period of severe psychological distress in April 2022, Wallis altered the date on her genuine passport's image using her computer to bypass the restrictions and deposit funds into a gambling account. She lost this money, but it was established in court that no one else suffered financial harm. The authenticity of the passport was confirmed, and Wallis did not use someone else’s identity in the act. Since then, she has sought to re-enter the self-exclusion program.
The judge characterized the offense as a “single impulsive” act stemming from psychological turmoil and recognized the substantial personal difficulties Wallis had faced. Wallis, according to her defense, was suffering from a serious mental disorder, prompted by significant life changes, including coming out as transgender, family separations, and publicly revealing that she was raped. The prosecution noted that Wallis cooperated throughout the legal proceedings.
In her written plea, Wallis addressed her gambling issues, stating, "The defendant has not repeated this conduct. The gambling problem which lay behind the offence has not recurred, has not given rise to any further offending, and is no longer a feature of her life." The judge cautioned that any future misconduct within the next nine months could lead to resentencing.
Wallis is among several politicians facing gambling-related charges, adding to a troubling trend. Just two weeks ago, three individuals affiliated with the Conservative Party were sentenced for offences under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005. This included former director of campaigning Anthony Lee and his wife, Conservative candidate Laura Lee, alongside former staffer Amy Hind, each receiving suspended sentences in connection with an election betting scandal that garnered national attention.
