Katie Wallis, formerly Jamie Wallis and the UK's first transgender Member of Parliament, has admitted to digitally altering her passport to access a gambling website during a period of acute psychological distress. Wallis, who represented Bridgend in South Wales from 2019 to 2024, was found not guilty of possessing a false passport with improper intention but pleaded guilty to a single charge under the Computer Misuse Act.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that Wallis had a history of gambling problems, having registered with the self-exclusion service Gamstop prior to her election in December 2019. The court was told that the gambling issue was in remission at the time of her election and did not affect her parliamentary duties, except for the offense in question. Wallis digitally edited an image of her passport to circumvent Gamstop's restrictions and access online gambling platforms, an act described as impulsive and unsophisticated. She did not tamper with her physical passport and incurred financial loss herself.
The court also heard that Wallis was suffering from a serious mental disorder at the time, exacerbated by coming out as transgender while serving as an MP. She had also become estranged from her family and had disclosed being a victim of rape.
Judge Shomon Khan imposed a nine-month conditional discharge, noting that the offense resulted in no financial gain for anyone else, no access to other individuals' data, and no damage to computer systems. The judge stated that given Wallis's guilty plea, medical evidence, the case's delay, and the professional and reputational consequences she had already faced, further punishment was unnecessary. Wallis was ordered to pay a £26 surcharge.
In June 2025, Wallis pleaded guilty to harassing her ex-wife, Rebecca Wallis, through unwanted voice notes and messages. She received a 12-month restraining order, a community order, and fines for that offense. Wallis publicly disclosed her gender dysphoria diagnosis and transition in March 2022. At the time, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and politicians from across the political spectrum offered support.