Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas' alleged stalker shields face as he leaves court
Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas' alleged stalker shields face as he leaves court
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A man charged with stalking Shirley Ballas has appeared in court. Kyle Shaw, 37, appeared before a judge in Liverpool today after being accused of causing serious distress to the BBC star between 2017 and 2023. The man was charged with stalking and a separate charge of possessing cannabis. The defendant was seen wearing a black coat over a shirt and a tie as he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday. The hearing lasted a few minutes, and no pleas were entered. Shaw spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood what had been said.
Shaw was given bail with conditions including not to enter London and not to contact Ballas or her partner. A provisional trial date was set for January 12 next year, with the case expected to last five days. Judge Robert Trevor-Jones adjourned the case for a hearing on February 25. The Strictly Come Dancing judge referred to the alleged stalking on The Mirror's Invite Only podcast, during which she admitted that it had left her fearful. She went on to explain that it has made her very "vigilant" and said: "I always have George, the guy who's driven me for the last five years, get out of the car first, always scanning. I wouldn't say it's the healthiest thing. You know, I like to be kind of like a free bird, but we're coming into times now where you have to be more vigilant of yourself. I am a very vigilant person. When I go out, I'm careful not to go alone.
During the chat, Shirley praised the BBC for the support and revealed the message she sends her mum every single time she's out. "You're upping your level of alarms. And (now) I always tell my mum: 'I'm here, I've arrived'. I wouldn't bother normally but it's become a thing that we do. I always like to say: 'I'm safe, I'm in the right place, I'm where I should be.' Thankfully the BBC's duty of care towards me has been one thousand percent, they have been fantastic," she said.
