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Voice contestant has two indecent assault charges withdrawn

Jeffrey Anderson appearing at Newtownards court. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
Jeffrey Anderson appearing at Newtownards court. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker Jeffrey Anderson appearing at Newtownards court. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker

A CO Down singer accused of child sex and voyeurism charges has had two charges of indecent assault withdrawn.

Jeffrey Anderson, who found fame on the BBC talent show Jesus Christ Superstar, appeared at Newtownards Magistrates Court where a prosecuting lawyer told the court there had been a decision to withdraw two of 14 charges he is facing.

The 25 year-old from Crawfordsburn Road in Newtownards also appeared as a contestant on BBC singing talent show The Voice.

Charges of indecently assaulting a female on a date unknown between August 1 2005 and March 31 2007 and another of indecently assaulting a second female on a date between April 1 and May 31 2006, were withdrawn.

Mr Anderson still faces 14 other charges including theft, specifically stealing photographs in 2011, three counts of possessing an indecent image of a child in 2013 and 10 counts of voyeurism on various dates between August 2005 and August 2013 alleging that for sexual gratification, he "recorded another doing a private act knowing that the other person did not consent to being recorded".

Previous court hearings have been told that charges were brought against Mr Anderson after an investigation from police lasting more than two years.

Mr Anderson was released on continuing bail and is due back before the court on 26 July.

As part his bail conditions, he is banned from carrying or being in possession of any device capable of recording still and moving images, excluding mobile phones, and is not allowed to leave the UK or apply for a passport.