Walter Chahwanda, 34, goaded victims to unmask his crimes as CPS consider the considered being caught was a part of his sick sexual fantasies.
Perverted Christian pastor Walter Chahwanda, 34, of Chester (Picture: CPS)
An evangelical pastor who despatched intimate movies of himself to youngsters and claimed intercourse chats on-line had been simply “naughty” position play will now face jail. Christian pastor Walter Chahwanda, 34, labored on the Apostolic Religion Mission earlier than he arrange his personal church on Merseyside known as Sound of Dominion, Liverpool Crown Courtroom heard.
However secretly over 4 years, he focused youngsters and younger ladies throughout the UK that he met by way of the Apostolic Religion Mission – sending them intimate sexual photos and movies of himself for “his personal gratification”. He was first arrested in February 2024 and denied the allegations however admitted to having “sexualised” conversations on-line, which he handed off as “naughty” position play.
Now Chahwanda, of Chester, has been convicted of 17 offences – together with 5 counts of sexual exercise with a baby, six counts of sending an indecent digital picture; three counts of inflicting a baby to look at a sexual act and three counts of sexual communication with a baby.
Aaron Smith, a specifically skilled lawyer with CPS Mersey Cheshire Rape and Severe Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, mentioned: “Walter Chahwanda used his place as a revered Pastor to abuse a 14-year-old baby and trigger misery to a number of younger ladies and kids.
“He had no regard for his or her wellbeing or vulnerability and was solely centered on his personal sexual gratification.
“He advised them he was risking the whole lot by his actions, but it surely was the ladies and women who had been those who felt trapped and disgusted by what he was doing.
“They discovered it tough to understand {that a} man in Chahwanda’s place would act in such a way and, in some situations, felt unable to speak about intercourse brazenly with others.
“Fortunately, ultimately, the victims had been listened to and Chahwanda was arrested. He continued to disclaim that what he had been doing was prison and mentioned the victims had consented. He handed off his offences as innocent.
“His victims defined in statements and proof the true affect of what he had achieved and the jury discovered him responsible.
“The Crown Prosecution Service wish to thank the victims and witnesses on this case for his or her braveness and assist on this prosecution. With out their testimony, Walter Chahwanda wouldn’t have been delivered to justice.”
Chahwanda was cleared by a jury of 1 depend of rape, one depend of assault by penetration and one depend of sending {a photograph}/movie of his genitals.
Liverpool Crown Courtroom (Picture: Liverpool Echo)
The pastor, who was described as having a task of authority and belief within the church buildings, focused 9 victims, together with younger ladies, over a interval of about 4 years.
After assembly them, he would add them on Snapchat or Instagram, earlier than beginning to speak about their look and “sexualising” the chat, the CPS mentioned.
He would then ship the pictures to his “shocked and confused” victims, whereas goading them to disclose what he was doing to others with a purpose to “expose him”, the courtroom heard.
The considered being caught seemed to be a part of his sexual fantasies, the CPS mentioned.
The CPS added: “A number of ladies did inform others in regards to the photos and the Church was additionally made conscious, however he refused to cease. His offending escalated as time went on.
“The daddy of one of many victims reported what had occurred to the NSPCC. A number of different victims additionally went to the police and assist organisations.
“Chahwanda was initially arrested in February 2024 and was interviewed once more in April 2025 following additional enquiries being made by police into further attainable victims.
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“Beneath questioning, he denied all the allegations, though he did admit to having sexualised conversations on one among his social media websites. He dismissed this as “naughty” and mentioned he was simply indulging in position play within the chats.”
Chahwanda was convicted on 17 offences on Tuesday third February and shall be sentenced on 20 March 2026.
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