STALKER WHO BELIEVED SHIRLEY BALLAS WAS HIS AUNT GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE
A stalker who believed Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas was his aunt has been given a suspended prison sentence.Kyle Shaw's "persistent campaign" involved sending abusive messages and a "menacing" threat aimed at Miss Ballas as well as her friends and colleagues.Prosecutors revealed that Liverpool Crown Court was told Shaw, aged 37, thought Miss Ballas's late brother, David Rich, was his biological father.Shaw admitted to stalking the 64-year-old dancer and causing her significant distress between August 31, 2017, and November 29, 2023.
He received a sentence of 20 months, which was suspended for 20 months.During the sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall described Shaw’s actions as "a menacing threat against her and her family." Shaw was also ordered to be subject to a lifelong restraining order that prevents him from contacting Miss Ballas, her niece, mother, or former partner.Nicola Daley, the prosecutor, stated that Shaw believed, based on what he was told by his mother, that her late brother was his father.
The court clarified there was no concrete evidence to confirm or refute this belief.
Shaw's messages included serious accusations, such as blaming Miss Ballas for her brother's death, which he had taken his own life in 2003.
Shaw had also created social media accounts impersonating her brother.The court heard Shaw approached Miss Ballas's mother in a shop in Wirral in 2019, claiming she was his grandmother and refusing to leave her alone, which prompted Miss Ballas to move her mother to London.
Shaw also posted threatening messages on Twitter, including an image of Miss Ballas's home address and a declaration that "You ruined my life, I’ll ruin yours and everyone around you." These actions caused Miss Ballas to become wary of socialising and using public transport, and she experienced ongoing sleepless nights worrying about her and her family’s safety.The court also disclosed that in October 2020, Miss Ballas contacted police after Shaw messaged her with a plea saying, “Do you want me to kill myself, Shirley?” Shaw also messaged her niece and colleagues, approaching her during book signings with threatening language.
He continued to express his desire to meet her in person, implying he knew her whereabouts and pretended to seek an autograph.Shaw claimed his behavior was motivated by a desire to connect with his family, despite revealing mental health issues since childhood.
His lawyer stated Shaw had accepted that Miss Ballas and her family did not want any contact and that he would not attempt to contact them again.
Shaw was ordered to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement to address his cannabis use.Natassia McAdam of the Crown Prosecution Service emphasized that Shaw’s attempts to contact Miss Ballas constituted stalking, which was persistent and increasingly abusive, causing her anxiety and distress.
She feared he might become violent, knowing the impact of his actions.
Miss Ballas, from Wallasey, Wirral, has been the head judge on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2017 and achieved international dance success before retiring from competition in 1996.
