Kyle Shaw sentenced for stalking judge Shirley Ballas

Kyle Shaw, a 37-year-old man from Birkenhead, has received a suspended 20-month prison sentence for stalking Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, believing erroneously that she was his aunt. He engaged in a persistent campaign of harassment from 2014 to 2023, sending threatening messages and even revealing her home address on social media. Despite his claims about familial ties, the court found limited evidence to support his belief that Ballas was related to him. The judge imposed a lifelong restraining order prohibiting Shaw from contacting Ballas or her family members. Prosecutors noted that Shaw's behavior caused significant anxiety and distress to Ballas, leading her to modify her lifestyle out of fear for her safety. Shaw pleaded guilty to the charges at Liverpool Crown Court, which recognized the serious nature of his actions as menacing threats.