The Voice star Jeffrey Anderson is spared jail for litany of sex offences - including secretly filming victims

Last month, Jeffrey Anderson, 29, of Shore Road, Kircubbin, admitted secretly recording women for his own sexual gratification. He also pleaded guilty to sexual assault and assault.

Anderson had appeared on prime time TV singing shows - Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Superstar, in 2012, and The Voice in 2014 as well as touring with a UK production of Jesus Christ Superstar following his appearances.

Anderson admitted recording 11 females doing a private act, knowing that they did not consent to being recorded, between April 2005 and August 2013.

The defendant admitted sexually assaulting one of his victims in 2012, and assaulting another woman, occasioning actual bodily harm, in 2015.

Anderson was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court yesterday.

He was sentenced to a three-year custodial sentence, suspended for three years.

He will also be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for 10 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wilson said: “Jeffrey Anderson secretly filmed his victims over a nine-year period.

“He carried out these heinous acts purely for his own sexual gratification.

“No-one has the right to film another person in an intimate setting without their express consent. It is just not acceptable.

Detective Chief Inspector Wilson continued: “The women in this case displayed immense courage in seeing this trial through to a successful conclusion.

“I hope that their tenacity and resolution to bring this man to justice will encourage anyone else who has experienced any form of sexual abuse to come forward to police.

“Officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland remain committed to investigating all reports of sexual offences.

“We will seek to place offenders before the courts so they can be made amenable for their crimes.

“I would like to take this opportunity to assure any victims of sexual abuse that they will be treated with sensitivity and respect, and I would continue to encourage anyone who has experienced any form of sexual abuse to contact police on 101, or ‘999’ in an emergency.”

Anderson was first charged with the offences in 2016 but his identity was protected for years due to reporting restrictions, which were finally lifted in May.