BBC Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas subjected to six year stalking ordeal as 37-year-old pleads guilty
A man has admitted stalking Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas over a six-year period.
Kyle Shaw, 37, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to stalking Ballas, 64, between August 31 2017 and November 29 2023.
The defendant, from Birkenhead, Wirral, also admitted possession of cannabis.
According to the charge, Shaw caused Ballas “serious alarm or distress, which had a substantial adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities”.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Shirley Ballas’ distressing ‘stalking’ ordeal as man charged after targeting BBC Strictly star for six yearsShirley Ballas, 64, shares mum’s brutal three-word verdict on star’s Netflix survival series stint: ‘Don’t do it’Shirley Ballas issues stern warning to fans over scammers as she pleads ‘stay safe’ in urgent message
Ballas, who is originally from Wallasey, Wirral, has been the head judge on the popular BBC dance competition since 2017.
Shaw was given conditional bail ahead of a sentencing hearing due to take place on April 1.
The court heard how his actions caused serious alarm to the dance judge over the extended period.
Shaw, of Whetstone Lane in Birkenhead, has been stalking Ballas since the same year she joined Strictly as head judge.
The 64-year-old TV star, known for her expertise as a ballroom dancer, has been subjected to Shaw’s behaviour for six years.
The case has now been adjourned until April when Shaw will learn his sentence.
The judge will consider all aspects of the case when Shaw returns to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing in April.
Previously, Ballas has spoken openly about the horrifying experience.
“There was one particular person who was kind of stalking me,” she began.
“That is under investigation at the moment, as we speak. I know his computer and phone, everything has been confiscated.”
The head judge on the hit BBC competition continued: “He was taking pictures of my house, he had my house, he had my car. So, yes, there have been times when I have been fearful.”
“I meet people and they really, the majority of people are fantastic, but then once or twice you’ll, they lunge…. this one particular person will lunge at me, and he really feels he knows me,” she revealed on the Mirror’s Invite Only podcast.