Ex-EastEnders star Katie Jarvis has been charged with assault and racially aggravated harassment over her alleged part in a drunken street brawl last summer.
The former soap star, 29, was seen on video last July rowing with a group of women outside a bar in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
She will now face charges of assault by beating, common assault, using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
Katie – who found fame as Hayley Slater on the BBC1 soap – was believed to have been drinking at Papillon Bar on July 31 with friends before a row broke out between her and five other women over a chair.
The video, which was shared on social media, showed Katie – wearing a black vest top and denim shorts – allegedly becoming involved with a member of the other group.
(Image: Facebook)
The pushing soon turned into punching as the brawl spilled into the street, with tables and chairs pushed over and glasses smashed, as other punters darted out of the way.
A witness at the time said the woman identified as Katie was escorted away while yelling, “I’m a famous actress!”, as one of her friends said: “She’s Hayley Slater from EastEnders!”
One woman, allegedly Katie, was heard in the footage shouting “f**king black c***” and “f**k Black Lives Matter”
(Image: Facebook)
(Image: Facebook)
Police were called and arrested Katie at the scene, and she was released under investigation in August.
At the time, Essex Police told us: “A 29-year old woman was arrested on, Friday 31 July just after 10.05pm following reports of a disturbance in Marine Parade, Southend.
“She has been arrested on suspicion of assault and racially aggravated public order.
“She has been released on bail Friday until 21 August.”
(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
(Image: BBC / Jack Barnes)
Katie, of Rainham in Essex, is due to face court in April in Southend.
Katie is the mother of two children – Lillie Mae, 11, and Alfie, eight – and hit headlines in 2019 when it emerged she was working as a security guard at B&M in Romford after leaving EastEnders.
(Image: WireImage)
In a subsequent interview with Grazia, the actress said she was made to feel ashamed of having a normal job.
“It’s the nature of being an actor; gigs come and go, and after my contract with EastEnders ended in February, I found a new job as soon as I could,” she said at the time.
“Doing work like this is also what keeps me grounded.”
The Mirror has contacted Katie’s rep for comment.
Leave a Reply