Smirking mug shot of serial sex offender actor Alex Westwood released by police

The "predatory and manipulative" actor is facing a lengthy jail term after being convicted of 26 sex offences against women and children yesterday (Tue). 

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how he forced pupils in his drama class to recite Shakespeare naked and also engaged in nude role-play scenarios.

Often citing films including sex scenes or classic scenes which involved sexual content, Westwood would ask the girls to perform parts naked.

Westwood - who also starred in BBC's Doctors - sexually assaulted one girl over a seven-year period and also filmed budding teen actress naked on his iPad. Jurors were told he had been a sexual predator from a child with his criminality stretching back to when he was aged just ten.

Westwood, of Albrighton, Shropshire, was found guilty of all charges,  including raping a teenager during acting classes, following a four week trial.

Speaking after the case, one of his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I was one of his victims and I was just 16. "I’d love for more details to be seen, because I want Netflix and the BBC to know who they hire."

From a child Westwood believed he was destined for stardom, first as a gymnast - but despite attending classes, he never made the grade. He turned his attention to acting and his breakthrough year was in 2018 when he played the leading role in Peter Pan The Musical at Birmingham's Blue Orange Theatre.

He also clinched his first movie role playing a fireman in action thriller Outlawed. He also landed a part in BBC drama Doctors playing a young solicitor. In 2019, he starred in short film Unstable, playing the lead character, and other short films before landing a role in Netflix production Sex Education. 

He appeared in 17 episodes between 2019 and 2021. To supplement his income Westwood began teaching, and usually taught teenage girls who wanted a chance of stardom in showbusiness. Unconventionally, he would hold classes in his flat alone with his pupils where the abuse would take place.

Citing sex scenes from TV and film, he spoke to one victim about 1991 movie Frankie and Johnny and a masturbation scene from Bridgerton.

Westwood was described in court as a "supreme manipulator" who was obsessed with sex and used his stardom to prey on his victims. Prosecutor Andrew Wallace said: "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."

Westwood sexually assaulted and raped one pupil who described how he would hold her down by the wrists, forcing her to bite him to get away. He also called the police on one of his victims whilst harassing her.

When one of the girls complained to her parents about his behaviour Westwood told her mum she owed him £18,000 due to the contract he made her sign, including a clause which said she had to pay for missed lessons. His victims watched on in horror as he continued to work on television and frequently boasted about having stars as friends on social media.

After parents reported Westwood to the police, so did the college he was teaching at, and from his first police interview he lied and blamed the victims. Mr Wallace told the court: "Alexander Westwood is a supreme manipulator. "All these charges have a common theme, of inappropriate touching and predatory behaviour."

Instead of pleading guilty to the raft of sexual abuse and rape charges the actor lied to the bitter end, forcing his victims the horrific ordeal of facing him in court.

After cross-examination by Westwood's lawyer James Bloomer KC, several of the young women giving evidence against him left the court in floods of tears. Westwood looked on from the dock, showing no emotion. He will be sentenced on February 25 next year.