Long-running legal battle comes to end as judge highlights ‘extraordinary expenditure of costs’ incurred by both sides

A judge has criticised Rebekah Vardy over a torturous finale to the high-profile “Wagatha Christie” libel battle against Coleen Rooney, as he ruled she must pay Rooney at least £1.4m in legal costs.

Costs judge Mark Whalan said that Vardy’s negotiations on the final settlement were “the definition of bad litigation”.