ALEX WESTWOOD SHROPSHIRE ACTOR CONVICTED OF 26 SEX OFFENCES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Alex Westwood, a 24-year-old actor from Albrighton, Shropshire, has been found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offences involving women and minors.The conviction, announced on Tuesday, December 10, follows a detailed four-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, during which Westwood was charged with a total of 26 separate sex-related crimes.
The court heard disturbing evidence of his predatory behavior, which spanned several years and included multiple instances of sexual assault and exploitation.
Westwood’s criminal conduct was described as both manipulative and predatory, with prosecutors revealing that he had been engaging in such behavior since he was just ten years old.
The trial uncovered that he had sexually assaulted a teenage girl over a period of seven years, and also filmed a young aspiring actress naked on his iPad.
The allegations further detailed that he coerced pupils in his drama classes to perform nude recitations of Shakespeare and engaged in nude role-play scenarios, exploiting his position as an acting instructor.
During the proceedings, jurors learned that Westwood had used his role as a drama teacher to inappropriately touch students, many of whom were teenagers.
One victim recounted how he would hold her down by her wrists during lessons, forcing her to bite him in an attempt to escape.
The court was also told that Westwood had called the police on one of his victims while harassing her, adding to the pattern of his abusive behavior.
In a disturbing twist, Westwood attempted to manipulate the situation by claiming that a girl owed him £18,000 due to a contract she signed, which allegedly included clauses requiring her to pay for missed lessons.
This was part of his broader pattern of deception and control.
His victims watched in horror as he continued to appear on television and social media, often boasting about his connections with celebrities, including British actor Asa Butterfield, with whom he was photographed posing for selfies.
Some images from his public Instagram account showed him dressed as characters from popular films and TV shows, such as the Tenth Doctor from BBC’s Doctor Who and Peter Pan, the latter of which he portrayed in a musical at Birmingham’s Blue Orange Theatre in 2018.
Prosecutor Andrew Wallace emphasized the gravity of Westwood’s misconduct, stating, “When giving acting lessons, he again used this as an opportunity to touch his pupils inappropriately.
These are schoolgirls we are talking about, teenagers.
Imagine asking Dame Judi Dench to recite Hamlet naked - she would tell you where to go.” Despite the mounting evidence and the severity of the charges, Westwood chose to deny guilt throughout the trial, lying during police interviews and blaming his victims.
His refusal to accept responsibility meant that the victims had to face him in court, reliving their trauma as they gave evidence.
Several young women left the courtroom in tears after cross-examination by Westwood’s legal representative, James Bloomer KC, while Westwood himself showed no visible emotion from the dock.
The court has scheduled his sentencing for February 25 of the following year, where he faces a potentially lengthy prison term for his crimes.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the allegations and the betrayal of trust by a man who was supposed to be guiding and mentoring young actors and students.
