Kellie Maloney has hit back at fresh criticism for speaking at a Kent Police event despite attacking her ex-wife.

The former Marden pub landlady was mentioned in an article in The Sunday Times yesterday, which referred to an incident in 2005, when she strangled her ex-wife.

Miss Maloney said: "It's an incident we laugh about now."

The article mentions trans activists who have advised police on equal rights, despite having having violent pasts or who may have encouraged violence.

The 66-year-old spoke at a Kent Police event in 2015, the same year she told The Mirror of the attack on her ex-wife, Tracey Maloney.

The couple divorced in 2012.

Speaking to KentOnline today, the former boxing promoter said: "What I did was totally wrong, I know that.

"I've never tried to hide from my past and I want to be honest. We've all made mistakes.

"Me and my ex-wife are close now, we know what happened and we know the circumstances."

Last year Miss Maloney gave up being landlady at The Unicorn pub in Marden, saying she wanted to focus on her speaking career.

She said: "Myself and other trans women talk about what we've been through and how we get on in the world.

"Some of the girls talk about the transphobic hate crime they've gone through. I'm lucky enough to have never had that to my face.

"It's not just police, I speak at schools, universities and companies, yesterday I was in Chester for a women's event.

"I like to speak about my journey. It helps people understand and it helps other trans people, schools have spoken to me after talks and said how I've helped pupils who are questioning their gender."

A Kent Police spokesman said: "In 2015 Kellie Maloney was one of a number of speakers at an event aimed at improving officers' knowledge of the diverse communities we police.

"Her contribution was on behalf of a charity who had been invited to present at the event.

"This was prior to Miss Maloney admitting historic domestic abuse."

Miss Maloney spoke to KentOnline last year about her life after transitioning, as she spends her time between homes in Herne Bay and Portugal.

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