Liverpool pastor convicted of grooming and sexually abusing multiple girls via online platforms
Summary
An evangelical pastor, Walter Chahwanda, was jailed for nine years after being found guilty of 17 sexual offences against girls aged 14 to 17 between 2017 and 2020. The offences included sending indecent electronic images, sexual activity with children, and causing children to watch sexual acts. Chahwanda, who was based in Chester and later ran a church in Speke, Merseyside, groomed victims on TikTok and Snapchat, targeting girls as far afield as Manchester, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and Kent. He admitted to having sexualised conversations on social media but dismissed them as "naughty" role play. The court heard that the church was aware of complaints but failed to safeguard young girls. Chahwanda was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court in 2023.
Incident Details
Harms involving the exploitation, abuse, or endangerment of minors, including CSAM and grooming.
Online contact by adults seeking to build trust with minors for exploitation.
Child sexual abuse material — the creation, distribution, or possession of such content.