Ex-EastEnders actress Katie Jarvis admits racial harassment and common assault

The former EastEnders actress Katie Jarvis has admitted racially aggravated harassment and common assault.

Jarvis, who played Hayley Slater in the BBC soap from 2018 to 2019, had previously denied the two offences which took place in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 2020.

The 30-year-old changed her plea to guilty at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday on what was supposed to be the first day of her trial. 

The racially aggravated harassment was against Michelle Antonio and others, while the common assault was of Toby Groom.

Judge Samantha Leigh bailed Jarvis to return to the court on Wednesday to be sentenced. 

The actress had also been charged with two counts of assault by beating, which she denied.

No evidence about these was put before the court, and Jarvis is due to be sentenced only for the two counts she admitted.

Jarvis made her acting debut in the Bafta-winning film Fish Tank in 2009 opposite Michael Fassbender and won a British Independent Film Award for best newcomer.

In 2019, she was reported to be working as a security guard for variety retailer B&M in Romford in east London.

She said at the time: "Over the years I've had so many different jobs in between, not just a security guard.

"When I was 17 and I got found for Fish Tank I was doing the doughnuts with my uncle at the time at festivals, and things like that.

"I've been a waitress, I've worked in a credit card company, I've done admin, I've done all types of things."