Rebekah Vardy’s ex-husband has sensationally joined Coleen Rooney’s ‘group’ within the long-running ‘Wagatha Christie’ battle between the 2 footballers’ wives, MailOnline has discovered.
Businessman Stephen Clarke, 56, who had a turbulent relationship with ex-party planner Becky round 2005 — lengthy earlier than she married Leicester Metropolis striker Jamie Vardy, is among the many witnesses who’ve given statements to assist Coleen’s case, in line with sources.
Mr Clarke was tight-lipped about his proof when approached by MailOnline, however up to now he has vehemently denied Becky’s allegations that he abused her throughout their time collectively.
Businessman Stephen Clarke (pictured), 56, who had a turbulent relationship with ex-party planner Becky round 2005 is among the many witnesses who’ve given statements to assist Coleen’s case, in line with sources
A supply stated: ‘Steve Clarke was Becky’s second husband and is aware of her in addition to anybody, so if he’s referred to as to offer his proof in courtroom, it might be a bombshell.’
In 2017, Becky claimed in an interview with The Solar that their 10 months collectively when she was in her early 20s was ‘hell’.
She stated: ‘I do know marrying thrice makes me sound like Zsa Zsa Gabor, however after a tough childhood I made some silly errors and went out with some real-life snakes!’
Becky, now 39, started relationship Mr Clarke, her boss at a timeshare firm, after her first marriage to Mark Godden broke down.
She stated of her marriage to Mr Clarke: ‘That shortly grew to become a horrible relationship — I used to be terrified of him. He’d inform me what to do, the place to be and easy methods to act.
She wed Mr Clarke when she was 23 and eight months pregnant by one other man. She stated: ‘It was the largest mistake of my life.’
Weeks later, she had eldest daughter Megan, now 16, however she has by no means named the daddy.
Mom-of-five Becky advised The Solar: ‘As quickly as she was born he made us transfer overseas. He claimed he owed cash and needed us to run away to Cyprus.
‘It went downhill from there. He grew to become violent in direction of me. He cheated, he lied.
‘It lasted ten months earlier than I escaped again to the UK with my child after he cheated on me.’
Rebekah Vardy (pictured), now 39, started relationship Mr Clarke, her boss at a timeshare firm, after her first marriage to Mark Godden broke down
Weeks later Clarke was sentenced to 2 years’ jail after his conviction for inflicting dying by reckless driving in a head-on crash which killed a dad and grandad.
His automobile had steered into the alternative lane on a Paphos highway.
Becky stated: ‘He bought his divorce papers for unreasonable behaviour whereas in jail. I used to be devastated at one other failed marriage — now I realise I had a fortunate escape.’
However Mr Clarke advised the newspaper: ‘I used to be at all times an excellent husband and I by no means cheated on Becky or ever raised my hand to her. I’m devastated two individuals died. It was a horrible accident.’
He additionally received a criticism in opposition to The Solar with press watchdog IPSO after they did not report his denial of getting ‘made’ Becky promote a kiss-and-tell story about her one-night stand with Peter Andre.
When approached by MailOnline, Mr Clarke refused to remark.
The £1m-plus Excessive Court docket libel case between the warring Wags is because of happen early subsequent 12 months.
In August, Jamie Vardy was dragged into the authorized fray after a decide dominated that his cellphone and laptop might be looked for related materials.
The case centres on allegations that Rebekah Vardy was leaking tales about Rooney – who’s married to former England captain, now Derby County supervisor, Wayne Rooney – to journalists on the Solar.
The courtroom additionally heard particulars of the large prices which were run up by each side within the case, that are on observe to prime greater than £1m.
In a setback for Becky, a decide dominated that her husband and different people on her administration group ought to have their telephones and different digital gadgets looked for any communication related to the libel case. This materials would then be made obtainable to attorneys for Coleen Rooney.
The £1m-plus Excessive Court docket libel case between the warring Wags is because of happen early subsequent 12 months. Pictured: Coleen Rooney
Decide Roger Eastman stated that owing to the benefit with which Instagram messages could be forwarded – and the quantity of people that had entry to Becky’s Instagram account – it made sense to permit third-party specialists to search for associated materials on the gadgets of these carefully linked to Becky.
Folks with entry to her Instagram account included her agent, Caroline Watt, her husband, Jamie, and her husband’s social media supervisor.
The ruling lays open the potential of extra materials concerning the world of soccer PR and celeb journalism being uncovered in courtroom. Becky has already been warned she might have handy over any particulars of conversations with journalists on the Solar.
The case started with Coleen’s sensational declare in 2019 {that a} sequence of tales within the Solar have been leaked from her non-public Instagram account.
In an try and catch the perpetrator, she posted a sequence of faux updates on her life to the Instagram account and slowly diminished the quantity of people that might see it till solely Becky remained.
When the tales continued to seem within the Solar, Coleen went public and posted: “It is ????? Rebekah Vardy’s account,” prompting Becky – who strongly denies accountability – to sue for libel.