TOMMY DONNELLY, TV DANCE STAR FROM SWANSEA, SENTENCED FOR PAEDOPHILIA

In December 2001, Tommy Donnelly, a former television dance celebrity from Swansea, was sentenced to three years in prison after police exposed his disturbing past as a convicted paedophile.

Donnelly, who is 60 years old, previously operated a successful dance school in the area, which he exploited to establish contacts with young girls. Once celebrated as a ballroom champion and later as a prominent Country and Western line dance instructor, he was convicted of grooming one girl for sexual purposes. The jury also heard how another girl was sexually assaulted after Donnelly allowed her to clean dance trophies in exchange for pocket money and treats.

One of the victims, a girl who had been abused since she was six, reacted angrily upon hearing of Donnelly's conviction, shouting at his family from the court gallery: "It’s disgusting. He’ll serve only 18 months. What’s that for ruining my life?" Her statement reflected her distress after a long silence of 26 years, when she finally summoned the courage to report the abuse.

Donnelly, born in Llannon near Llanelli in west Wales, denied all ten charges brought against him, which included multiple counts of indecency with a minor and indecent assault. Among the charges, one encompassed ten specific instances of abuse.

During the trial at Swansea, Judge Michael Burr emphasized the gravity of Donnelly’s crimes, stating, "These are very serious offences. The effect on one of your victims in particular is continuing. Even now, you have not come to terms with what happened. You were prepared to involve more than one child. You abused one on the settee at your home repeatedly as your confidence grew through getting away with it."

Donnelly was instructed to register as a sex offender for life. His solicitor, Kevin Riordan, remarked that "this will have a devastating effect on him and his family."

Donnelly and his wife Barbara, 53, who is blonde, previously ran a thriving dance instruction business. The couple was once a well-known sensation in the dance world, earning awards and appearing on the television program "Come Dancing." They also worked as entertainers on cruise liners before returning to Wales.

Before turning to dance instruction, Donnelly initially worked as a plumber. The husband of one of his victims compared his behavior to that of notorious paedophile Jonathan King, stating, "Tommy behaved just like Jonathan King and other paedophiles – gaining the trust of youngsters and then abusing them."