It was one of the biggest, most surprising news stories of 2019, and now the legal battle between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy is rumbling on - with new details of the whole operation coming to light.
True to her Wagatha Christie ways, Coleen didn’t do things by halves; as we have now learned from new court documents in the libel case Rebekah Vardy has brought against her after she accused her of leaking stories to the press. And, of course, it was the story that gave us the now infamous ten-dot ellipsis of “It was………. Rebekah Vardy’s account.”
The pair had tried mediation for their case, but could not come to an agreement, hence the new court date for next year - which looks set to cost both parties well over a million pounds.
Coleen began her sleuthing operation in January 2019, working her way through her 300 followers on her private Instagram account, who she thought were trusted friends and family, to compile a list of possible suspects. What’s also been revealed that Wayne had no idea she was carrying out some detective work.
Fake posts were created, but were uploaded as well as ‘regular’ ones, so as to not arouse suspicion. The ‘dummy posts’ in April 2019 were seen by Becky and one other person, but Coleen says she couldn’t recall the identity of the other viewer.
Another was seen by former Manchester United footballer Tom Cleverley, and two others were seen by unidentified individuals. All but five posts were only seen by Becky.
Following the dummy run, Coleen claims she blocked anyone from seeing her account - except for Becky.
The court papers explain: "This led to her belief that it was the Claimant who was responsible for the leak, given her established history and habitual practice of providing private information to journalists and the Press.
"The Defendant had also heard rumours that the Claimant was responsible for similar leaks or disclosure of private information from other so-called WAGS or celebrities."
Coleen has claimed Becky leaked information to the press "for the purposes of self-promotion and for financial exploitation of her public profile" - something Becky has always denied.
Becky has also voiced her displeasure at Coleen allegedly calling her ex-husband Steve Clarke to testify in the case, which she says could ‘destroy’ her. Becky has said she suffered abuse from her former partner, although Clarke has always denied this. “I feel the time has come where I may need to start speaking out a little more. It feels like a cruel threat to destroy the me that has survived, “ Becky said. “I have already been quite open about how mentally vulnerable the abuse I suffered has made me.
“This legal case has always been about clearing my name. 'It's really important that women feel enabled to speak out about their experiences and not be shamed over them or have them used as a weapon against them. Speaking out provides support to the thousands of women who are trying to find the strength to break the cycles and leave their relationships.'
The libel trial is due to take place in April 2022.