A BRITAIN’S Got Talent star was accused of a child sex offence just days before she was found dead at home, an inquest heard.
Kerri-Anne Donaldson, 38, reached the semi-final of the ITV show in 2014 as part of the group Kings and Queens.
An inquest heard today Kerri-Anne was arrested on suspicion of “child sex offending” but no further details were revealed.
The dancer was detained on June 4, 2023, and questioned at a police station.
She was discovered dead at home in Farnborough, Hampshire, three days later by her sister Cara Donaldson.
There was a note at the top of the stairs urging Cara not to come inside alongside photos of her dog and family.
The song “You are so Beautiful” was also playing when Kerri-Anne was found, the inquest heard.
The court was told the performer’s cause of death was given as hanging.
A post mortem also found she had non-fatal levels of medication in her blood, which were consistent with an overdose.
The inquest heard evidence yesterday from Detective Constable Benjamin Harris, of Hampshire Constabulary, who led the investigation into the unknown accusation against Kerri-Anne.
He said her accuser had let police know the dancer threatened to take her own life “if someone finds out” about the allegation.
Det Con Harris said he had considered the possibility her 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.”
The officer told the inquest the suggestion of self-harm was “something we take very seriously” and he reported it to his senior officers and advised his colleagues who arrested Kerri-Anne.
He said following the interview, he graded the dancer’s risk of self-harm as “standard”.
The officer added: “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.”
Det Con Harris said Kerri-Anne 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.”
But he told the court “with the benefits of hindsight” he should have included a question about the complainant’s comments when making the risk assessment.
The inquest heard yesterday how following her release from custody, Kerri-Anne failed to return home – causing her family to report her as a missing person.
She was later found at a Travelodge hotel in Woking, Surrey, after taking an overdose.
Cara said her sister told an emergency doctor at St Peter’s Hospital in Surrey that she had wanted to kill herself.
Recalling the tragic statement, she continued: “I just wanted to hug her.”
Psychiatric liaison nurse Serina Juru, who carried out a mental health assessment after the overdose, said today she assessed Kerri-Anne as at a “high and imminent risk of suicide” and rated her risk as level 10 out of 10.
She told the court the dancer said she could be sent to prison if convicted of the offence and that she “could not face that”.
The nurse added: “She wanted to end her life because she was embarrassed about what had happened.”
Ms Juru said she offered Kerri-Anne an “informal” admission to hospital for further assessment or home care support but she refused both that day leading her to start a “high-risk care plan”.
She said the performer also told her that if she was discharged into the care of her sister Cara, she would wait for her to leave to look after her children and then take her own life.
The inquest heard Kerri-Anne was discharged from hospital the following day into Cara’s care when Ms Juru was not on duty.
Psychiatrist Dr David Enright, who had assessed her, said she was “calm” and no longer thinking about suicide.
But Cara said when she drove her sister home on June 6, the dancer told her she had made the decision to take her own life.
She claimed the family had not been given any care plan or advice on how to assist the star when they left the hospital.
Cara also said she asked her sister about the allegation and was told she was not guilty and that it had “all been constructed”.
She said she spent the evening with her sister and was reluctant to leave her alone, saying: “If you do anything, Kerri, that will always be on my shoulders.”
Cara continued: “[Kerri-Anne] joked ‘I am not going to do that’, so I left.
“One of the last messages was ‘Thanks for everything today’ and she gave a heart emoji, I just thought she was OK.”
But when Kerri-Anne did not answer the phone the next morning, Cara went round to her home and discovered her dead.
Describing her sister, she said: “Heart of gold, full of fun, brought happiness to life, especially mine, career-driven, adored her family, adored her friends, fantastic dance teacher, everyone loved her.”
She said Kerri-Anne had been on television a few times and added: “Her main passion was to choreograph dancing.”
The Kings and Queens Latin dance troupe were a big hit with BGT fans, making it all the way to the semi-final of the ITV show.
Kerri-Anne performed alongside Neil and Katya Jones and Kai Widdrington, all of whom became professionals on Strictly Come Dancing.
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
Following her death, Neil said: “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.”
Ex-Strictly dancer Joanne Clifton also paid her respects to the “beautiful dancer”.
She said: “I have no words… This is just heartbreaking.. truly devastating.
“We’ve known you and shared the dance floor with you basically all our lives.
“Dance up there with the angels Kerri.. you beautiful dancer, you beautiful soul.”
Amy Dowden echoed those sentiments, writing: “So shocked and sad. Such a beautiful dancer and kind soul.
“Sending love to all your family and friends. Heaven has certainly gained an angel. Keep dancing up there lovely.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.