Reality TV Star Got Job at Cardiff Restaurant While On the Run From Authorities

A reality TV personality who was wanted under a European arrest warrant managed to secure a job at a Cardiff restaurant while evading Swedish authorities.

Dermot Clemenger, 52, a professional dancer originally from Ireland, is well‑known in Sweden for his long‑running role as a judge on the hit TV show Let’s Dance. But in December 2024, he was charged with 31 counts of purchasing sex — an offence illegal in Sweden since 1999.

Before he could be arrested, Clemenger fled the country. A European arrest warrant was issued, and he remained an international fugitive for more than a year.

Working in Cardiff while wanted abroad

While the warrant was active, Clemenger was working as a manager at Spitfire, a barbecue restaurant on Cardiff’s St Mary Street, and also at the chain’s Bristol branch.

Staff confirmed he had been working there recently, though the business declined to say whether he is still employed.

Spitfire said the case was “outside UK jurisdiction” and had “no direct relevance” to his employment, adding that all right‑to‑work checks were completed correctly.

Charges dropped due to time limits

Swedish prosecutors told PulseMedia that the charges were dropped in January this year because they had become time‑barred under Sweden’s statute of limitations.

Just before the case expired, Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet tracked Clemenger down in Cardiff city centre, filming him as he ran from their questions.

A well‑known figure in Sweden

Clemenger moved to Sweden in the early 2000s after forming a successful dance partnership with a Swedish performer. He represented the country internationally and later became a household name through Let’s Dance, one of Sweden’s most‑watched TV shows.

He left the programme in 2024, shortly before the charges were brought.

Police: sex‑purchase laws target organised crime

A Stockholm police officer told Aftonbladet that UK authorities had not prioritised the search for Clemenger, but stressed that cracking down on buyers of sex is vital because the money often flows to organised criminal networks and human traffickers.

Restaurant denies wrongdoing

Spitfire, which opened its Cardiff branch in September 2025, said it had acted “fully within UK employment law” and was not required to report allegations from another jurisdiction.

The company did not confirm whether Clemenger plans to return to Sweden or whether he wished to comment.

For more news visit Pulse Media.