Jessie Wallace looked sombre on Tuesday as she was seen for the first time since her sister claimed she had been physically attacked.
Over the weekend, Danielle Mason – who is Jessie’s younger half-sister – stated that she had been attacked by her ex-fiancé Lee Dopson after her engagement party in November last year.
As the news was shared online, Jessie understandably looked downcast as she ran errands in London.
The EastEnders actress, 53, kept a low-profile on the outing in baggy grey cargo pants and a black jacket.
Before she stepped out, Danielle had shocked her Instagram followers by sharing an image of her bruised and bloodied face alongside a number of stories detailing her legal woes with Lee, 45, to whom she has served a non-molestation order last week.
Danielle told the Daily Mail the image of her facial injuries came from the night of the couple’s engagement party in November 2024, when they hosted a lavish bash at the DoubleTree By Hilton St Anne’s in Wokingham.
Jessie Wallace looked sombre in London on Tuesday as she was seen for the first time since her sister claimed she had been physically attacked
Over the weekend, Danielle Mason – who is Jessie’s younger half-sister – stated that she had been attacked by her ex-fiancé Lee Dopson after her engagement party in November last year
Danielle, who began dating Lee in 2023 after meeting in a supermarket on their respective school runs, told her 46.3k followers that she felt forced to address the issue after Lee posted his own claims on social media.
Lee had posted a video montage of his face with various bruises, which Danielle told the Daily Mail were the result of self-defence amid the attack.
Danielle later shared a message of thanks to her Instagram followers, writing on Wednesday: ‘The messages of support I’ve had yesterday has actually blown me away.
‘Over something I was so scared to speak up about and really didn’t want to. Thank you. I will get back to you all in time.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Lee for comment.
In May, Danielle confirmed she had split from the garden landscaper as she revealed she was ‘entering a new chapter in life’, however she had never spoken out about the intricacies of the split until her comments on Monday evening.
The couple both have children from previous relationships, with Danielle sharing two kids, 12 and ten, with her ex-husband Tony Giles, with whom she starred on Channel 4’s hit show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
Danielle shared an image of her face with a fat lip, scrapes across her chin and a swollen nose with ‘engagement’ written on top.
As the news was shared online, Jessie understandably looked downcast as she ran errands
The EastEnders actress, 53, kept a low-profile on the outing in baggy grey cargo pants and a black jacket
Jessie and Danielle are pictured in 2019
Danielle later shared a message of thanks to her Instagram followers, writing on Wednesday: ‘The messages of support I’ve had yesterday has actually blown me away’
In her stories, Danielle spoke to the camera saying: ‘Right obviously I don’t want to take to social media about personal things but obviously sometimes in life you have incidents that go on behind closed doors…
‘I’ve had an incident go on where I’ve had to have a non-molestation [order] which was granted to me last week at Slough Court. I’m not sure why the person I’ve done it against has felt the need to then go post about me more but it is becoming a bit of a joke now so I’ve spoken to my solicitor today…
‘I’m not sure but from somebody that has done the things you have done to a woman and then you have the cheek to go and post that you’re some sort of innocent party it doesn’t sit well with me and I’m at a stage where I’m happy to speak out all truths.’
In another pair of stories, she again spoke to the camera, saying: ‘I’m not sure why you think it’s ok to demoralise a woman with everything that you’ve done and then take to social media to put her down even more…
‘The reason you didn’t get charged [for] what you did is because I refused to do statements but I was happy to get a non-molestation so I understand you wanted to post on social because you wanted some attention – I don’t want this attention…
‘But however if you’re gonna post about something as serious as that then I’m happy myself to come forward and put the truth out there…
‘Another thing I’m going to say is anyone that’s been through this, you’ll understand how hurtful it is when some people know what you’ve been through and will still stand by that abusive person and people know what’s gone on and still stand by them to keep face for their family…
‘It is so hurtful but once you get past that first couple of months… strength comes out and I can see now why so many women don’t speak out about what they’ve been through.’
Danielle told Daily Mail the image of her facial injuries came from the night of her engagement party to Lee in November 2024 (pictured)
Danielle spoke on her Instagram Stories about the night in question and their legal battle
Lee meanwhile posted a video montage of his face with various bruises, which Danielle told the Daily Mail were the result of self-defence amid the attack
She rounded out her stories by writing a post simply reading: ‘I didn’t want to speak out but I’m getting pushed now’
She rounded out her stories by writing a post simply reading: ‘I didn’t want to speak out but I’m getting pushed now.’
A non-molestation order is a court injunction under the Family Law Act 1996 in the UK that protects an ‘associated person’ and/or any children from the respondent’s molestation, including from violence, threats, harassment, or pestering.
To apply, you must have been in a qualifying relationship with the respondent and complete Form FL401 on the GOV.UK website with a witness statement detailing your reasons for needing protection.
The provision can ‘prohibit the respondent from using or threatening violence towards you or children, forbid the respondent from contacting, harassing, or pestering you or children directly or indirectly, prevent the respondent from attending specific properties or areas, [or] prohibit the respondent from encouraging a third party to engage in any of the prohibited actions.’
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, contact National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247
