Ex-EastEnders star admits racially aggravated harassment and common assault

A former EastEnders actress has today admitted racially aggravated harassment and common assault following an incident in Essex.

Katie Jarvis, who played Hayley Slater in the soap between 2018 and 2019, had previously denied the two offences, which are said to have happened in Southend-on-Sea on July 31 2020.

But Jarvis, 30, changed her pleas to guilty at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday.

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

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

She had also originally 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.

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.”