Daily Express

Rebekah: They’re trying to make me into a scapegoat

- By Tom Pilgrim

REBEKAH Vardy complained she was made a “scapegoat” during Euro 2016 and news coverage made her “blood boil”, documents in the “Wagatha Christie” trial reveal.

Screenshot­s of the mother of five’s texts to husband, Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, were among evidence files that lawyers on both sides of the libel case agreed could be released.

There were also posts from Coleen Rooney’s private Instagram account.

Rebekah, 40, revealed the depth of her fury at the 2016 coverage when she shared an article link in a message thread with “Hubby”.

Distractio­ns

A story claimed the then England captain Wayne Rooney had “held talks” with Jamie, 35, about his wife.

Rebekah messaged her husband: “Seriously ???? ” Jamie replied: “No not at all babes x.” His wife added: “***** trying to make me into a scapegoat X.” Jamie responded: “******* ********* x”

The £3million trial, which ended on Thursday, was told Wayne spoke to Jamie about Rebekah’s “media activities” during Euro 2016 as they were “causing problems and distractio­ns”. Wayne said he “100 per cent” had an “awkward” conversati­on with his team-mate after being asked to by then England manager Roy Hodgson.

But speaking outside the court, Jamie said Wayne, now Derby County manager, was “talking nonsense”.

In a message to Jamie about coverage of the “talks” between the stars, Rebekah commented: “Jesus... This must have come from somewhere! Joke makes my blood boil X.”

There were also screenshot­s of private Instagram posts made by Coleen, including two from October 2017.

One marked Wayne’s birthday and another was of her husband and three of their sons wearing pyjamas in bed.

The mum of four said she did not upload it publicly due to “difficulti­es” between them. She claims a newspaper article referenced the posts. Coleen, 36, carried out a “sting operation” in 2019, accusing Rebekah in a social media post of leaking “false stories”, which the latter denies and sued for libel. Coleen defended the claim on the basis her post was “substantia­lly true”.

Mrs Justice Steyn is due to give her ruling at a later date.

 ?? Pictures: JONATHAN BUCKMASTER, PA ??
Pictures: JONATHAN BUCKMASTER, PA
 ?? ?? Furious... Rebekah and Jamie. Her texts, below and above right
Furious... Rebekah and Jamie. Her texts, below and above right
 ?? ?? Key shot...picture of Wayne with three of his sons was never posted publicly
Key shot...picture of Wayne with three of his sons was never posted publicly
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? Coleen Rooney
Coleen Rooney

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