A man has been given a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 20 months, at Liverpool Crown Court for stalking Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas.
According to charge sheets, Kyle Shaw, 37, of Birkenhead, “made continued unwanted attempts to contact” Ms Ballas. He also “made social media posts about her” from August 31, 2017 to November 29, 2023.
It was alleged that he had posted a photo of the television star’s home online, tried to contact her family members as well as friends and colleagues and made arrangements to attend her book tour. This reportedly prompted Shirley to “increase her security measures”.
(Image: PA)
The concerned star went as far as “relocating her mother to a different property” after suffering a “substantial adverse effect”, as per the Liverpool Echo.
Shaw appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on April 1. He previously admitted to stalking involving serious alarm or distress against Shirley over a period of more than six years.
The man also appeared at the same court in February to confirm his name, date of birth and guilty plea. He also pleaded guilty to a count of possession of cannabis on December 5, 2023.
At the sentencing, Shaw was also ordered to forfeit the cannabis, and an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting Shirley and three others was imposed.
(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
Judge Woodhall told him: “This is obviously not a case where immediate imprisonment will significantly impact others. It’s clear given your mental health conditions that incarceration will impact you more greatly than many others.
“Offences of this type are ordinarily of such seriousness that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence. Your bail conditions appear to have had some success. Further protective measures can work to avoid further offending. There are reasons to believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
“Your mental health conditions coupled with your personal circumstances amount to significant mitigation. I’ve concluded the principles will be better achieved if this sentence is suspended.”
It’s reported that Shaw burst into tears after hearing his sentence. He will also be made to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
(Image: PA)
Outside the courtroom, he reportedly told family members: “I thought I was going down.”
Judge Woodhall said in court that Shaw had been stalking Shirley as his mother told him that the star’s “late brother was your biological father”.
The judge went on: “I’m satisfied your motivation was a desire to connect with people you believed were your family. Whether there was any truth in that belief is difficult to determine. However, you then embarked upon a consistent campaign of contact involving implicit threats involving not only Shirley Ballas but those connected with her.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
