Jesus Christ Superstar singer Jeffrey Anderson pleads guilty to string of sex offences

A Co Down singer who appeared on TV talent shows has been revealed as a sex offender who secretly recorded women for his own gratification.

Jeffrey Anderson (29) pleaded guilty last week to a string of offences, which can now be reported on for the first time after restrictions imposed in 2016 were lifted.

Anderson - nicknamed 'Baby Jesus' while touring in a UK production of Jesus Christ Superstar - admitted that between April 2005 and April 2007, for his own sexual gratification, he recorded a female doing a private act knowing she did not consent to being recorded.

He also pleaded guilty to 10 charges of voyeurism against 10 other women committed from April 2005 to August 2013 - some of whom attended the remote hearing.

In addition, he admitted sexually assaulting one of his victims between January 1 2012 and March 11 2012, and of assaulting another woman, occasioning her actual bodily harm, on a date between October 21 and 31 2015.

The charges came after he competed in two prime-time singing shows - Andrew Lloyd Webber's Superstar in 2012, and The Voice in 2014.

Following the pleas, Downpatrick Crown Court Judge Geoffrey Miller, sitting in Belfast's Laganside Courthouse, heard that pre-sentence and medical reports should be ready next month.

Crown barrister Ken McMahon said it will also be seeking victim impact statements.

He added that as two of the complainants were under 18 at the time, it will be asking that Anderson is made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Judge Miller set the date for sentencing as July 3 and then addressed Anderson, who appeared via videolink with his solicitor.

Telling him he had pleaded guilty to "very serious charges", the judge said he now needed to co-operate fully with both Probation and the doctor with regard to reports.

Anderson was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and was told that the time period will be determined when sentenced in July.