The Voice star Jeff Anderson told child sex abuse charges dropped
31st MAY 2016
He now faces a total of 14 charges including possession of indecent photographs of children, voyeurism and theft
The Voice contestant Jeff Anderson arriving at Newtownards courthouse this morning
The Voice star Jeff Anderson was today told two charges he faced of indecent assault against children had been dropped.
Singer Anderson, 25, from Co Down, appeared at Newtownards Magistrate’s Court.
A prosecutor told District Judge Mark Hamill two charges against Anderson were to be withdrawn.
He now faces a total of 14 charges including possession of indecent photographs of children, voyeurism and theft.
Previous courts were told that charges were brought against him after an investigation by police lasting more than two years.
In court today Anderson’s lawyer described the withdrawn charges as “serious allegations in themselves”.
He also referenced coverage of his client’s case in the media and stressed the importance of a “presumption of innocence” for Anderson.
The case was adjourned for eight weeks and Anderson left the court on continuing bail.
Anderson, who performed in front of The Voice judges Ricky Wilson, Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue and will.i.am in 2014, appeared in court in an open neck shirt and suit.
In 2013 he had been the special West End guest in Peter Corry’s annual The Music Box at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.
And in 2012 he had appeared on Superstar, a TV reality show where he competed for the part of the son of God in a new production of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar and was made understudy.
http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/voice-star-jeff-anderson-told-11407563
🔴Previous hearings
Jeffrey Anderson appears at Newtownards Court on Tuesday, The Singer who appeared on popular BBC talent show The Voice is charged with sexual offences.
A “crucial” report has yet to be filed in the proposed prosecution of TV musical reality star Jeffrey Anderson, a court has heard.
Appearing at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 25-year-old Jeffrey Anderson heard a prosecution lawyer tell the court that a report had still not been received by the department.
“That is crucial to the decision and is required by the directing officer,” said the lawyer who asked for the case to he adjourned to the end of the month.
Anderson, from the Crawfordsburn Road in Newtownards, is on bail facing a total of 16 offences including theft, specifically stealing photographs in 2011, three counts of possessing an indecent image of a child in 2013, two counts of indecent assault on children on dates between 2005 and 2007, and 10 counts of voyeurism on various dates between August 2005 and August 2013.
Previous courts have heard that charges were brought against him after an investigation from police lasting more than two years.
Anderson first shot to prominence when he took part in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s BBC talent show Jesus Christ Superstar, earning the nickname “baby Jesus” as the show’s youngest contestant, and although he didn’t win the part of Jesus, he went on to be chosen as the understudy and toured the UK with the production.
He appeared on TV screens again in 2014 when he took part in BBC singing show The Voice but he failed to impress judges and didn’t make it past the audition stage.
At court on Tuesday District Judge Mark Hamill released Anderson on continuing bail and ordered him to appear again on May 31.
As part of his bail conditions, Anderson is prohibited from carrying or being in possession of any device intended or capable of recording still and moving images (to include cameras, video cameras, remote cameras, web cameras) excluding mobile phones, is not allowed to leave the UK or apply for a passport, or to speak to any prosecution witness and must report to police once a week.
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