Ballet teacher who had been accused of having sex with underage pupil admits abducting 15-year-old boy



A ballet teacher was warned yesterday that she could face jail after she admitted abducting a 15-year-old boy with whom she had been accused of having a sexual relationship.



Sarah Pirie, who has appeared as an extra in television shows including Hollyoaks, had allegedly taken the teenager to hotels in Manchester for sex over a three-month period.



Yesterday, however, the unlawful sex allegations against the 27-year-old brunette were dropped after she admitted a single charge of taking him away without lawful authority.

In the dock: Sarah Pirie arrives at Preston Crown Court with an unknown companion

A court was told that prosecutors had concluded there was no realistic prospect of convicting Pirie on the sex offences because of factors including the teenager’s reluctance to give evidence.

Warning: Pirie leaves court having been told that she could face a jail sentence

Pirie, whose father is believed to be a former British ambassador who now runs a large sheep farm near Leuchars in Fife, Scotland, worked at a dance school in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.



She has since moved to Luxembourg where her wealthy stepfather is an accountant working in the banking industry. Pirie gave a bail address in Marner, Luxembourg.



During her dance and stage career, Pirie has appeared in TV soaps including Hollyoaks and done choreography work.



Dressed in a smart black trouser suit, she appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court yesterday to admit detaining the 15-year-old without the authority of his legal guardian on May 22 last year.



She is understood to have been ordered to stay away from the boy after the allegations of an improper relationship first arose but to have defied the instruction and instead continued to see him.



Another five charges of unlawful sexual activity with a child, which relate to the alleged illicit hotel trips between March and June last year, are expected to be left to lie on file when she returns to court.



Michael Lavery, prosecuting, said matters that would need to be disclosed to the court about the 15-year-old boy meant it had been concluded there was ‘no realistic prospect of a conviction’ on those charges.



The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report. Pirie, who will be sentenced on January 7, was given bail on condition that she does not approach the youngster and co-operates with the probation service for the preparation of the report.



Judge Michael Byrne warned her she could be locked up, saying: ‘All options will be open.’

