Strictly judge Shirley Ballas's stalker sentenced

A man who stalked Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas been given a suspended prison sentence.

Kyle Shaw, 37, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Liverpool Crown Court to stalking the 64-year-old star between 31 August 2017 and 29 November 2023.

The court heard Ballas moved her mother to a different address and increased her security as Shaw made continued unwanted attempts to contact her. He also posted about her on social media, including an image of her house.

Shaw, from Whetstone Lane, Birkenhead, has been sentenced to 20 months in jail, suspended for 20 months.

Shaw also attempted to contact her family, friends and work colleagues, monitored her online and TV presence and made arrangements to attend her book tour.

He also admitted possession of cannabis.

Ms Ballas, originally from Wallasey, Wirral, has been head judge on the BBC show since 2017.

By the age of 21, Ballas had won nearly every major title she competed in, including the World Latin American Championships.

She retired from competitive dancing in 1996.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.