A BITTER rift between fans of singer Altiyan Childs has ended up in Queanbeyan Local Court following a series of breakdowns in the reality TV star’s career.
The troubled singer rose to stardom in 2010 as the winner of Channel Seven’s X-Factor program, but has since plummeted back to earth following a number of bizarre incidents that have alienated some fans.
One of his biggest local fans, 35-year-old Kerrie Hadfield, has supported Childs throughout his turbulent career and has defended him on several Facebook pages and online fan forums.
Hadfield pleaded guilty to three harassment charges at Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday following a series of threatening phone calls made to a fellow Altiyan Childs fan.
The origins of what Magistrate Chris Bone called a ‘‘very strange case’’ date back to April last year when the house of Childs’ then manager, Steve Yankuloff, was raided by police. They allegedly found drugs, guns, knuckledusters and a stun gun.
The fact that Childs had recently been living at the same house caused his fans to split into two camps: one that continued to support the singer and protest his innocence, and another that had become fed up with Childs’ increasingly eccentric behaviour.
Childs was also dating a 19-year-old fan he met on Facebook at that time, which further alarmed some fans.
According to facts before the court, the split between fans prompted a series of online slurs and insults between Ms Hadfield and a Narooma woman.
But when Ms Hadfield – who suffers from cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, or water on the brain – started calling the woman and leaving threatening voicemail messages at her home and business, police stepped in and laid charges.
Police allege the most threatening, expletive-ridden voicemail message was left on the victim’s home phone at 12:25pm on May 29 last year, and that Hadfield hinted in the message that the victim’s shop might be burnt down or broken into.
‘‘Obviously those following Mr Childs have engendered a fair bit of emotion, and that’s fine. But once you start ringing people at home ... you’ve gone too far,’’ Magistrate Bone said.
The magistrate took into account some of Ms Hadfield’s community involvement in sentencing her, and noted her work in founding Altiyan’s Angels, a disability support group that helped fans of the singer with mobility issues attend his concerts.
Magistrate Bone said among Mr Childs abilities was his ability to connect with disabled people.
‘‘Apparently he has many fans who have hearing disabilities as well,’’ he said.
Ms Hadfield was sentenced to an 18-month good behaviour bond.
Meanwhile, Altiyan Childs continues to make headlines after he pleaded guilty in Taree Local Court last week to having cannabis and methamphetamine in his system while driving on the Pacific Highway in January.
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