Man who stalked Shirley Ballas for six years sentenced

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" saw him send abusive messages and a "menacing" threat to Miss Ballas as well as her friends and colleagues.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 37-year-old thought Miss Ballas's late brother, David Rich, was his father.

Shaw, who itted stalking the 64-year-old dancer, causing her serious harm or distress between 31 August 2017 and 29 November 2023, was sentenced to 20 months, suspended for 20 months.

ing sentence, Judge Gary Woodhall said: "This was a menacing threat against her and her family."

Shaw, from Whetstone Lane in Birkenhead, was also made the subject of a restraining order for life.

It means he will never be allowed to either Miss Ballas or her niece, mother or former partner.

Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said: "He believed, and it's evident from what he was told by his mother, that her late brother was his father."

The court heard that while there was no evidence his belief was incorrect, there was only "limited evidence" it was correct.

Ms Daley said that, in his messages, Shaw had accused Miss Ballas of being responsible for the death of her 44-year-old brother, who took his own life in 2003.

The court heard Shaw also set up social media s in her brother's name.

The prosecution said Shaw approached Miss Ballas's mother, 86-year-old Audrey Rich, when shopping in Wirral in 2019.

Shaw told Ms Rich she was his grandmother and continued to follow her around the shop when she did not want to speak to him, the court heard.

This incident resulted in Miss Ballas moving her mother from Merseyside to London.

The court also heard Shaw posted messages on Twitter, now X, which included an image of the BBC One star's home address along with a message which said: "You ruined my life, I'll ruin yours and everyone's around you."

As a result of Shaw's actions, Ms Daley said Miss Ballas became reluctant to socialise with colleagues and stopped using public transport.

The prosecutor added: "She described having sleepless nights worrying about herself and her family's safety and being particularly distressed when suggestions were made to her that she and her mother were responsible for her brother taking his own life."

The court was told in October 2020 Ballas ed police after he messaged her and said: "Do you want me to kill myself, Shirley":[]}