BGT Dancer Kerri-Anne Donaldson Threatened Suicide Over Allegation, Inquest Reveals
An inquest has heard that Kerri-Anne Donaldson, a dancer who reached the semi-final of Britain's Got Talent, told an accuser she would take her own life if a sexual offence complaint against her became public. The 38-year-old was found dead at her home in Farnborough, Hampshire, on June 7, 2023, following a series of distressing events.
Details of the Case and Police Response
Kerri-Anne Donaldson, who performed on the TV show in 2014 as part of the dance group Kings and Queens, was arrested on June 4, 2023, and questioned at Basingstoke police station about an alleged sexual offence, which she denied. During the police interview, the complainant reported that Ms. Donaldson had talked of suicide "if someone finds out" about the accusation.
Detective Constable Benjamin Harris of Hampshire Constabulary stated that after speaking with Ms. Donaldson post-interview, he graded her risk of self-harm as "standard," noting she presented as "fine" and showed no immediate signs of suicidal intent. However, he admitted that "with the benefits of hindsight," he should have considered the complainant's comments in his risk assessment.
Mental Health Assessments and Hospital Discharge
Psychiatric liaison nurse Serina Juru conducted a mental health assessment of Ms. Donaldson at St Peter's Hospital on June 5, 2023, rating her suicide risk as level 10 out of 10—deeming it "high and imminent." Ms. Juru testified that Ms. Donaldson expressed fear of imprisonment if convicted, stating she "could not face that" and was "very assertive" about ending her life due to embarrassment.
Ms. Juru also revealed that Ms. Donaldson had said if discharged into her sister Cara Donaldson's care, she would wait for her sibling to leave to attend to children before taking her own life. This information was communicated to Cara Donaldson. Despite these warnings, Ms. Donaldson was discharged from the hospital into her sister's care when Ms. Juru was off duty.
Final Events and Ongoing Inquest
Cara Donaldson told the hearing she left her sister alone after being reassured she was fine, only to discover her body the next day. Psychiatrist Dr. David Enright assessed Ms. Donaldson on June 6, 2023, before her release, noting she was "calm" and claimed she no longer had suicidal thoughts, expressing a desire to live. The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding her death.
Warning: This story contains distressing content, including references to suicide. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can contact Samaritans at 116 123 or via email at jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, individuals can call their local Samaritans branch or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
