Britain’s Got Talent dancer advised sexual offence accuser she would take her personal life ‘if somebody finds out’ earlier than her demise, inquest hears 

A Britain’s Got Talent dancer told the person accusing her of a ‘sexual’ offence that she would take her own life if the allegation came out, an inquest has heard. 

Kerri-Anne Donaldson, who reached the semi-final of the ITV show in 2014 as part of the dance group Kings and Queens, was found dead at her home in Farnborough, Hampshire, on June 7 2023.

An inquest held at Winchester Coroners Court was told that the 38-year-old was arrested on June 4 and questioned at Basingstoke police station about the ‘sexual’ offence which she denied.

After going missing and being found at a hotel in Woking, Surrey, she was taken to hospital having taken an overdose.

Following her discharge, Ms Donaldson was found hanged at her home on the following day.

Detective Constable Benjamin Harris, of Hampshire Constabulary, who led the investigation into the accusation against Ms Donaldson, told the inquest that the complainant was interviewed on video about the allegation.

When asked by the coroner Jason Pegg, Det Con Harris confirmed that the complainant had said that Ms Donaldson had told them that she would take her own life ‘if someone finds out’ about the allegation.

Kerri-Anne Donaldson, who reached the semi-final of the ITV show in 2014 as part of the dance group Kings and Queens, was found dead at her home in Farnborough in June 2023

Britain’s Got Talent star Ms Donaldson took her own life three days after she was arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence

The young star died in June 2023 in her home town of Farnborough, Hampshire

Det Con Harris said that he had considered the possibility that Ms Donaldson’s reported comments could be a ‘form of control’ against the complainant. 

He said: ‘In my experience in some offences it can often be said without wanting to carry it out.’

He said that the suggestion of self-harm was ‘something we take very seriously’ and he reported it to his senior officers and advised his colleagues who subsequently arrested Ms Donaldson on June 4.

Det Con Harris said that after the interview he graded Ms Donaldson’s risk of self-harm as ‘standard’ and said: ‘When I spoke to Kerri, which was after the interview, in the cell she presented to me at that time that she was fine, so normal.

‘She had no indication that she wanted to take her own life, when that was spoken about with her she gave no indication that would happen.’

He added that she had told him she had seen a counsellor previously and added: ‘She knew how to get help and she was in no way considering harming herself.’

He said that ‘with the benefits of hindsight’ he should have included a question about the complainant’s comments when making the risk assessment of Ms Donaldson.

Det Con Harris added that the police did not have the powers to detain someone unless they presented an ‘imminent’ danger to themselves.

Ms Donaldson performed on the ITV talent show in 2014 as part of the super-group Kings and Queens alongside future Strictly Come Dancing professionals.

Ms Donaldson (front row, second left) performed on Britain’s Got Talent in 2014 as part of the group Kings and Queens alongside future Strictly professionals

Other members of the troupe included Kai Widdrington and Neil and Katya Jones, all three of whom later became professional dancers on Strictly.

Paying tribute at the time of her death, Strictly professional Mr Jones said Ms Donaldson was ‘like a big sister’.

He wrote on X: ‘Kerri Anne Donaldson- remember that name and please never forget it because it belongs to a woman who loved to dance, create and perform, she had the cheekiest laugh and a heart of gold, she hated getting in the car with me, but would always listen to my crazy ideas, we shared so many moments and stories and she was always the voice of reason. Kerri you were my friend and like my big sister.’

The inquest has heard that a post-mortem examination gave a cause of death of hanging and it had also found that she had non-fatal levels of medication in her blood which were consistent with an overdose.

Kevin Clifton also shared his upset, writing: ‘Absolutely heartbroken. I’ve known Kerri since we were kids and she was always the loveliest girl.

‘A friend and a dance partner. I’m glad we got to dance together this xmas. And that the whole cast of Strictly Ballroom got to work with you in rehearsals. RIP.’

The hearing continues.

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