Stalker, 37, who made Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas’ life hell during six-year harassment ordeal is spared jail

A stalker who made Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas’ life hell during a horror six-year ordeal has been spared jail today after a court heard he believed she was his aunt.

Kyle Shaw, 37, from Wirral, was told by his own mother that his father was the former dancer and choreographer’s brother David Rich, who killed himself aged 44 in December 2003.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he became obsessed with Ms Ballas, bombarding her with messages on social media and suggesting she was responsible for her brother’s death during the ‘distressing’ campaign. 

In one message, posted on Instagram, in October 2020, Shaw wrote: ‘You ruined my life, I will ruin yours and everyone around you.’

Ballas, 64, was so fearful she boosted security at her home and work, stopped taking public transport or staying in hotels and was even forced to relocate her 86-year-old mother, Audrey Rich, to a new home away from Wirral after Shaw approached her in a supermarket.

But Shaw was today allowed to walk free after being handed a 20-month jail term suspended for 20 months – and a lifetime restraining order banning him from contacting the Strictly judge, her partner, mother or niece. 

Judhe Woodhall told Shaw: ‘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.’

Shaw burst into tears as he learned his fate, and was heard remarking to a family member: ‘I thought I was going down’.

As part of his sentence he will also be required to complete rehabilitation activity of up to 20 days and a 12-month drug rehabilitation programme.

The judge previously heard Shaw had been diagnosed with ‘complex mental health’ issues that had affected him since the age of seven. He had been a victim of ‘serious offending’ as a child and had made repeated attempts at suicide from a young age.

Shaw has been diagnosed with several conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder and emotionally unstable personality disorder. 

Judge Woodhall said Shaw’s case did not involve delusional behaviour, physical attraction or obsession with a celebrity. Rather, he ‘genuinely believed’ he was related to Ms Ballas, although proving whether that was the case was ‘difficult, if not impossible to determine.’

However, the judge said that once Ms Ballas and her relatives made it clear they did not want to speak to Shaw, he mounted a ‘persistent, unwanted and unpleasant’ campaign ‘involving implicit threats’ against them. 

Judge Woodhall told Shaw: ‘Your comments and constant threats all caused serious alarm and distress… she (Ballas) lives in fear of what you might do.’

Shaw first admitted stalking Ballas between August 31, 2017, and November 29, 2023 in February.

He also admitted possession of cannabis, and was given conditional bail ahead of today’s sentencing hearing. 

Shaw was pictured arriving at Liverpool Crown Court this morning wearing a face covering, sunglasses and hat, and was seen smoking a cigarette. 

The stalker, who was dressed in a white shirt and black tie, broke down in tears as details of his offending was outlined.

Shaw posted on social media about the star, including uploading the image of her house, attempted to contact her family, friends and work colleagues, monitored her online and TV presence and made arrangements to attend her book tour. 

The court heard Shaw first sent ‘upsetting’ messages to the TV judge in 2017. Initially, the messages were sent via his own social media accounts, but later he also set up accounts in Mr Rich’s name, which added to Ms Ballas’ distress.

By 2019 his unwanted attention was having a ‘substantial adverse effect’ on Ms Ballas’ life, Ms Daley said.

‘She recalls the constant contact at that time accusing her of being responsible for her brother’s death because he took his own life,’ she added.

Referring to an image of her home, which was posted on X by Shaw, Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said: ‘Ms Ballas was understandably frightened by that, she became more worried for her own safety because of the likelihood of him turning up at her home. 

‘Around that time messages continued in a menacing manner. As a consequence, she increased security at work and home. By that point she was constantly worrying and looking over her shoulder.’

Ms Ballas also described having sleepless nights, the barrister added.

In relation to Ballas’ mother, the court heard Shaw approached Ms Rich in a supermarket and told her she was his grandmother – before continuing to pursue her around the shop when she did not want to speak to him. 

He also sent her messages, saying: ‘Where’s my dad? Where’s my dad?’ 

Shaw also sent messages to her niece Mary Assall, former partner Daniel Taylor and to work colleagues from Loose Women and Strictly Come Dancing. 

The court heard when Ballas had book signings planned in Wirral Shaw messaged her saying: ‘I can’t wait to meet you for the first time Aunty Shirley. Hopefully I can get an autograph.’ 

In other messages sent to Ms Ballas in October 2020 Shaw threatened to harm himself, saying: ‘Do you want me to kill myself Shirley?’

The court heard Ms Ballas was concerned for Shaw’s mental health but also frightened for her own safety if he was ‘unstable.’

Contact then stopped for several years, but, the court heard, the messages resumed again in October 2023.

A month later, in November, Shaw also managed to obtain Ballas’ former partner Mr Taylor’s telephone number. The court heard at first Mr Taylor did not realise who was calling, but Shaw appeared to know details of Ms Ballas’ movements and her book signings, which prompted her to call police again.

He also contacted her niece, Ms Assall, who had been signed off work and suffered panic attacks as a consequence.

In a victim impact statement Ms Assall told the court that, even if it was later discovered that he was related to her family, she wanted nothing to do with him because of the way he had behaved.

It was said there was evidence that Shaw’s mother had told him when he was a teenager that she had had a relationship with Mr Rich and fallen pregnant, but Judge Gary Woodhall added: ‘There is equally limited evidence that it’s correct.’

His conduct was said to have left Ballas, who has been head judge on the BBC show since 2017, ‘seriously alarmed and distressed’ and unable to continue her usual day-to-day activities.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Natassia McAdam said: ‘Kyle Shaw’s attempts to contact Ms Ballas were clearly stalking.

‘They were persistent and became abusive and caused anxiety and distress over a prolonged period of time.

‘His behaviour became increasingly erratic, and she feared he would become violent. He knew what he was doing would cause her alarm and distress.’

It comes months after Shirley phoned the police when an alleged stalker ‘lunged at her and took photos of her house and car’. It isn’t known if the incident was linked to Shaw.

Ballas previously thanked the BBC’s ‘fantastic’ duty of care dubbing it as being ‘one thousand percent’.

The dancer had a successful Latin dance career before joining the Strictly Come Dancing panel in 2017 as she replaced head judge Len Goodman.

Shirley’s ordeal comes after Gavin Plumb was convicted over his attempts to kidnap and murder former This Morning host, Holly Willoughby.

Shirley previously told how she is much more aware of her safety ever since Holly’s ordeal was made public.

She said: ‘I am a very vigilant person. When I go out, I’m careful not to go alone. If it’s at night, I’m always a little bit nervous.

‘There’s what you read on social media, (and then) particularly with Holly – her experiences. So, yeah, I don’t take anything lightly.

‘There are many amazing people, but there are a few strange people out there. It’s quite hard, and makes you always a little bit more precautious.’

She continued: ‘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.’