YouTube prankster Ryan Taylor guilty over Celebrity Big Brother break-in

Ryan Taylor was spotted on set by horrified housemates, including dancer Wayne Sleep who told the production crew: “Big Brother, there are people in the house.”

Taylor, who has more than 1.5m followers of his YouTube channel, has previously hit the headlines after riding his BMX bike off a high platform into the swimming pool at Walsall's Gala Baths.

Alarmed security guards ran into the garden of Big Brother House to confront YouTuber Taylor, aged 25, who had been joined by his friend 21-year-old Ally Law who was seen in the pool.

The court heard a woman guard even had to jump into the pool fully clothed to bring Law out of the water.

Police officers arrived at the studio in Elstree, Hertsfordshire, to make arrests amid fears a terrorist incident was under way, magistrates were told.

Housemates were left ‘shocked and frightened’ and the security shutters came down to cover the windows.

It was the second time in a week the two YouTubers had sneaked into the studio area to get within feet of the celebrities taking part in the Channel 5 show.

The pair have gained notoriety in the past by filming themselves carrying out mischief making stunts and antics.

Footage of their exploits is then posted online and on YouTube attracting thousands of followers.

Taylor, of Lichfield Road, Bloxwich, and Law, of Hepworth Close, Southampton, were found guilty of two charges of aggravated trespass after a trial at St Albans Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Chairman of magistrates, Stuart Jack, said they were found guilty of obstruction and disruption, but not of intimidation towards the housemates and the Big Brother production team.

He told them: “You chose to make your incursions at a time of maximum exposure at the time of a live eviction. You jeopardised future recordings.”

The magistrates were told that a civil court has imposed an injunction banning Law and Taylor from attending Elstree studios.

Mr Michael Goold, defending Law, asked for a fine to be imposed.

"The actual disruption and harm was quite limited,” he said.

For Taylor, defence solicitor Mr Umar Shahzad also asked for a fine to be imposed say the offence was at the lower end.

Sentencing was adjourned until March 5.

It was in January of this year that the TV show Celebrity Big Brother was showing on Channel 5.

Contestants taking part in January’s series of the show also included Amanda Barrie, Ashley James, Dapper Laughs, Jess Impiazzi, Jonny Mitchell, Ginuwine and John Barnes.

Magistrates heard on the night of January 19 the pair, who each had ‘GoPro’ cameras attached to their heads, filmed themselves as they scaled the perimeter fence around the studio to make their way to the Big Brother house.

They filmed themselves as they climbed staircases, ladders and fire escapes and eventually managed to gain access to the house, the court heard.

Prosecutor Mr Clinton Hadgill said the pair managed to get into the loft area.

He said the first security staff knew that something was amiss was when it became apparent live footage of the intrusion was being shared on Snapchat and which also showed some of the celebrities chatting in the living room area.

As a result, security staff went to the loft area where they spotted Law and Taylor climbing a ladder.

Law was wearing high viz jacket and they claimed: “We are only having a laugh we just wanted to get into the pool" referring to the hot tub in the Big Brother garden.

On this occasion the pair were escorted out of the house and handed over to police who had been called to the studio.

The court was told no action was taken.

But a week later on the night of January 26 the pair arrived back at the perimeter fence.

Magistrates heard they were were again wearing ‘GoPro’ cameras as they climbed over the fence and made their way along a set of outside walkways, up staircases and scaffolding at the back of the set.

Law was wearing a fluorescent jacket and Taylor had on an orange hoodie, the court was told.

Once more security staff were alerted that two unauthorised people were clambering around the outside of the Big Brother house.

Camera footage shot by the defendants that night was played in court and showed them reaching the garden area outside the contestants’ house and bursting into laughter.

Law is heard telling his accomplice he is going to get into the hot tub and then is seen kicking off his shoes and dropping his trousers before getting in the water in his black boxers.

On this occasion the housemates were aware that intruders were in the garden area.

Wayne Sleep told the production crew: “Big Brother, there are people in the house.”

Housemate Courtney Act corrected him saying: “Outside the house, not in the house.”

The court was told the housemates were immediately put into lockdown. Film footage played from the ‘GoPro’ camera Law had been wearing as he sat in the hot tub was played in court, which showed security guards arriving in the garden.

Eventually a woman security guard jumped in the water to grab Law and and pull him out.

Magistrates were told how on January 19 this year Law and Taylor arrived outside the studio in Elstree in a Blue BMW which they parked in a nearby Tesco car park.

Following their discovery that night in the roof area of the Big Brother house, they told police officers called to the scene that they had planned to get into the Big Brother hot tub.

With no evidence that they had planned to steal anything that night or cause injury to anyone or damage property, it was decided they wouldn’t be charged with any offence and they were escorted out of the studios by the officers.

A clip from the show that went out a week later on January 26 was then played to the court.

It was the moment that the housemates heard who was to be evicted and, as the announcement was made, some of the contestants alerted “Big Brother” to the intrusion outside in the garden.

Moments later came the tannoy announcement to the housemates “This is Big Brother. Everything is under control. The intruders have been taken care of.”

More footage was played to the magistrates of the pair arriving in the Big Brother garden which showed them laughing gleefully before trying different doors.

Law then told his pal he was getting into the hot tub before kicking of his footwear and removing his trousers to jump into the water in his underwear.

Moments later security guards rush in to detain Taylor before surrounding the hot tub and shouting at Law to get out, the court heard. As he moved to the side of the pool, he was grabbed and pulled out.

In an interview he gave to the police Law claimed the only intention that night was to provide “entertainment” and he apologised for “any fear” he might have caused and he had never intended to harm anyone.