Walter Chahwanda

Walter Chahwanda, a 34-year-old pastor based in Chester, who owned an evangelical church called Sound of Dominion in Liverpool, was found guilty of serious sexual offences against young girls and women. Previously associated with the Apostolic Faith Mission, Chahwanda exploited his position of authority and trust within church communities to target vulnerable individuals across the country over a period of approximately four years.

Chahwanda's modus operandi involved meeting children and young women through church-related activities. He would then connect with them on social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, initially engaging in innocuous conversations before escalating to sexualised discussions. He frequently commented on their appearances and expressed personal attraction, after which he would abruptly send them intimate pictures and videos of himself, often depicting sexual acts. In one particularly egregious instance, he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old child. Chahwanda's behaviour included goading victims to expose his actions to others, which appeared to fuel his sexual fantasies centred around the risk of discovery.

Despite reports from several victims to church authorities and support organisations, including the NSPCC, Chahwanda refused to cease his offending, which escalated over time. He was arrested by Merseyside Police in February 2024 and interviewed again in April 2025 following investigations into additional victims. During questioning, Chahwanda denied the allegations but admitted to sexualised conversations, dismissing them as 'naughty' role play.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges for 22 counts relating to nine victims. At Liverpool Crown Court on 9 February, following a trial, a jury convicted him on 17 counts, including sexual assault and sending indecent images. He was acquitted on charges of rape, assault by penetration, and one count of sending a photograph or film of his genitals. Aaron Smith, a specialist prosecutor with the CPS Mersey Cheshire Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, stated: 'Chahwanda abused the trust placed in him as a pastor to target and harm young women and children. Their courage in coming forward has ensured he is now a convicted sex offender who will spend many years in prison.' The CPS successfully applied for restraining orders to prevent Chahwanda from contacting his victims.

Chahwanda was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with a requirement to serve at least nine years in custody, followed by five years on licence. Smith added: 'He had no regard for their wellbeing or vulnerability and was solely focused on his own sexual gratification.' The victims' impactful statements and testimony were pivotal in securing the conviction, highlighting the profound distress caused by Chahwanda's actions, which shattered their trust in a respected religious figure.