Ex-EastEnders star admits to general assault and racially aggravated harassment

A former EastEnders actress has admitted to racially aggravated harassment and mutual assault after an incident in Essex.

Atie Jarvis, who played Hayley Slater on the BBC soap from 2018-19, had previously denied the two offenses, which are said to have happened in Southend-on-Sea on July 31, 2020.

The 30-year-old, from Rainham, east London, changed her guilty plea at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday, the first day of her trial.

The racially aggravated harassment was directed at Michelle Antonio and others, while the joint attack was directed at pub worker Toby Groom.

Judge Samantha Leigh has released Jarvis on bail to return to court on Wednesday to be sentenced.

Jarvis made his debut in the 2009 Bafta-winning film Fish Tank opposite Michael Fassbender and won a British Independent Film Award for Best Newcomer.

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

She said at the time: “I’ve had so many different jobs in between over the years, not just as a security guard.

“When I was 17 and got found for Fish Tank, I was making donuts and stuff at festivals with my uncle back then.

“I’ve been a waitress, I’ve worked at a credit card company, I’ve worked in administration, I’ve done all kinds of things.”

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

No evidence was presented to the court and Jarvis is only to be convicted on the two charges she admitted to.