Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg has recorded a conclusion of suicide for Britain’s Got Talent dancer Kerri-Anne Donaldson, who died three days after she was arrested on suspicion of child sex offending.
The dancer, who reached the semi-final of Simon Cowell’s show in 2014, as part of dance group Kings and Queens, was found dead at her home in Farnborough, Hampshire, on June 7 2023.
An inquest held at Winchester was told the 38-year-old was arrested on June 4 and questioned at a police station about the “sexual” offence, which she denied.
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Instagram/kerri_annedonaldson)
She was then reported missing and was found at a hotel in Woking, Surrey, and was admitted to St Peter’s Hospital, Surrey, having taken an overdose.
Ms Donaldson was placed under a “high-risk care plan” on June 5, but she was released from the hospital on June 6 into the care of a home treatment team after she was assessed to have “settled”. She was found hanged at her home the following morning. Coroner Jason Pegg said he was recording a conclusion of suicide for Ms Donaldson.
She performed on BGT alongside Neil and Katya Jones and Kai Widdrington, who both went on to become professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing.
At the inquest held at Winchester on February 16, Cara said her sister had told an emergency doctor at St Peter’s Hospital in north Surrey that she had wanted to kill herself and added: “I just wanted to hug her.”
She added that when she drove her sister home on June 6, she had told her that she had made the decision to take her own life when she had left the police station.
She said they had not been given any care plan or advice on how to support her sister when they left hospital. Cara said that 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.”
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Tom Dymond/Thames/REX/Shutterstock)
The inquest heard that the song “You are so beautiful” was playing on repeat when Ms Donaldson was found, in addition to a folded-up photograph of her dog alongside the writing: “If only you knew how many times you had saved me.”
Several photo books and canvases of family members were also found, including a photo of Ms Donaldson with Cara, with the words “I am so sorry”. A photograph of their parents also had the words on it: “I am so sorry, I made the mistake of trust, I wish I could start again.”
Cara, describing her sister, 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 also revealed that her sister had spoken in the past about struggling to make sure she could ‘get the money in’ from her job running a dance studio, but added that they were the “usual worries”. She also said that Ms Donaldson had told her that she wanted a “big house and car” and added: “She just wanted to be rich and famous.”
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
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