Trans Lawmaker Blames ‘Acute Psychiatric Distress’ for Doctoring Passport to Gamble

Britain’s first transgender lawmaker has struck a plea deal to resolve a claim that she altered an image of her passport so she could gamble online.  

Katie Wallis is a former member of parliament (MP) who represented Bridgend in Wales from January 2019 until May 2024. Elected by defeating Labour incumbent Madeleine Moon, Wallis, a Conservative lawmaker, was elected when she was still known as Jamie Wallis.

In March 2022, Wallis came out as transgender, making history as the first trans MP in the House of Commons. At the time, she continued to use the name Jamie and he/him pronouns, only stating publicly in May 2025 while in court that she now preferred to go by Katie.

The 2025 court case was about Wallis allegedly harassing her ex-wife, with the lawsuit resolving with a community order. Wallis’ legal matters weren’t finished, as she continued to face charges for possessing a false passport and possessing a false passport with improper intention.

Online Gambling Case

Prosecutors in the Cardiff Crown Court alleged that Wallis, while still an MP, in April 2022 altered an image of her passport so she could gamble online. Wallis had previously registered with Gamstop, a self-exclusion program that prohibits one’s access to licensed gambling websites and apps in Great Britain.

This week, Wallis admitted to altering an image of her passport to create an online gambling account. In exchange, the court dismissed the false passport possession charges, and Wallis agreed to a Computer Misuse Act conviction. Wallis was handed a nine-month conditional discharge.

Prosecutor Richard Posner stated that Wallis suffered from a “recognized gambling problem” and committed the offenses during a period of “acute psychiatric distress.” Defense counsel added that she was managing a “serious mental disorder” and the emotional fallout of coming out as transgender.  

Posner said Wallis lost the money she deposited and no one else suffered financial loss from her altering of her passport. The prosecutors said Wallis had not altered the physical copy of her passport and did not attempt to register a gambling account under someone else’s identity.

Posner said Wallis was cooperative with the investigation in encouraging the court to accept the plea deal. Judge Shomon Khan agreed that Wallis’ behavior was a “single, impulsive” act in approving the terms.

Wallis did not seek reelection to the Bridgend constituency and left politics in May 2024. Along with harassing her ex-wife and the online gambling charge, Wallis has been convicted of several driving offenses since leaving politics.

UK Gambling Statistics

Nearly half (49%) of adults in the UK participate in at least one form of gambling each month, according to data from the UK Gambling Commission. However, when excluding lottery games, the monthly participation rate drops to 28%.

Overall online participation, including web-based lottery play, stands at 39%, while online gambling excluding lotteries was 16%.