Mystery of phone in North Sea could hold key to ‘Wagatha Christie’ case

The celebrity libel trial of year is finally due to get under way on Tuesday after more than £1m in legal fees, the publication of excruciating private conversations, and revelations about the interactions between footballer’s wives and tabloid journalists.

File photo of Coleen Rooney (left) who has accused Rebekah Vardy (right) of selling stories from her private Instagram account to the tabloids.

Somewhere at the bottom of the North Sea is a mobile phone which may hold the evidence Coleen Rooney needs to win next week’s “Wagatha Christie” libel trial at the high court in London. Unfortunately for the footballer’s wife, her only hope of retrieving the device – and any relevant WhatsApp messages it could still hold – is if a fishing trawler happens to dredge up the phone before her case starts on Monday.

The celebrity libel trial of year is finally due to get under way after more than £1m in legal fees, the publication of excruciating private conversations, and revelations about the interactions between footballer’s wives and tabloid journalists.