Britain’s Got Talent star Christopher Gittins, who performed with breakdancing Stormtrooper act Boogie Storm, has been jailed after admitting to six counts of sexual activity with a child.
The 23-year-old was sentenced today at Caernarfon Crown Court to two years and nine months for each of the six counts, to be served concurrently.
Christopher pleaded guilty to six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a male child over a period in 2018.
Judge Niclas Parry said: “What you did was to groom him and cause him to believe he was special. You would call him and buy him gifts. You clearly knew that what you were doing was illegal.”
Christopher Gittins was sentenced to two years and nine months for six counts of sexual activity with a male child (Image: Instagram)
The judge said Christopher had used the boy as an “emotional crutch” during the period of abuse and that the offences were in the most serious category in terms of sentencing.
The incidents took place in locations including Powis Castle grounds, near Welshpool in north Wales, and a public toilet.
The abuse was revealed when the young boy’s mother found Facebook messages from Christopher to her son.
Prosecuting, Mr John Philpotts said: “She sent a message to the defendant before she went to the police station the next day. He responded by saying that if she didn’t approve he would stop. He didn’t deny it from the start.”
Christopher performed with Boogie Storm on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016 (Image: ITV)
The victim’s mother said that the abuse had robbed her son of his “childhood” and “innocence”.
She explained that he had lost friends and confidence, while the victim said he had been left feeling “anxious” and that his education suffered.
Dance teacher Christopher was arrested on January 9, 2019.
His defence, Mr John Hedgecoe, said: “He has indicated remorse and has accepted his responsibility throughout.”
Christopher must serve half of his two years and nine months sentence before being released on licence.
The Boogie Storm creator has distanced the group from Christopher after the sentencing (Image: ITV)
He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life, which means he cannot approach males under the age of 16.
He must also pay the victims’ surcharge.
After the sentencing, Boogie Storm creator Lee Seddon told the Shropshire Star: “Our hearts go out to the victim and to his family. We were left in shock when we heard about it via social media.
“We have not been in contact with Mr Gittins since he left the group. He was with us in 2016 when he was a teenager and was in the pool of dancers who performed on Britain’s Got Talent.
“He left sometime after that in about 2017. These offences happened afterwards.
“He was from Wales and wasn’t as close to the rest of the others who were from Liverpool. He returned there with his family.
“This case is about what he’s done and not about Boogie Storm. This is not something which we want to be associated with.
“We’ve moved on to perform overseas and we do a lot for charities.”
The act had been Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent back in 2016.
They came third overall in the series.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
