A 34-year-old pastor has been sentenced after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences involving underage girls, with the case spanning several years and multiple locations across England.

Walter Chawhanda of Plemonstall Court in Chester, formerly associated with the Apostolic Faith Mission and housing his own congregation as Sound of Dominion Speakers in Merseyside, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court. His offences took place between 2017 and 2020, over a three-year period.

The court heard that Chawhanda used social media platforms including TikTok and Snapchat to communicate with victims aged between 14 and 17, including at least one girl under 14. In total, he was found guilty of 17 offences: five counts of sexual activity with a child, six counts of sending indecent images, three counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and three counts of sexual communication with a child. He admitted to engaging in explicit conversations and roleplay online.

Investigation found he would abruptly send explicit images and videos of himself, often depicting sexual acts. Part of his behaviour involved encouraging the victims to disclose what he was doing, urging them to “expose” him to others. 

Chawhanda held a position of authority within the church and was widely respected, which added to the shock and confusion experienced by the victims when they received the content.

Some of the girls did speak out, informing others and raising concerns within the church. Despite this, the behaviour continued.

Chawhanda was sentenced to nine years in prison and will remain on the sex offenders register for life. The judge noted that he had abused a position of trust within the church, using his role as a pastor to gain access to and manipulate young victims across areas including Manchester, Yorkshire, the Isle of Sheppey, and Kent.

The sentencing has since sparked widespread backlash online. Many have questioned whether nine years adequately reflects the severity and scale of the crimes, particularly given the number of victims and the prolonged period of abuse. Some reactions have gone as far as calling for harsher penalties, with a number of people reigniting debates around whether the UK justice system delivers meaningful consequences in cases involving sexual abuse.

Beyond the sentencing itself, the case has reopened ongoing conversations about abuse of power within religious spaces, particularly within Black British communities, where churches often hold significant cultural and social influence. Over recent years, there has been a growing willingness to speak on misconduct within these institutions, challenging long-standing dynamics of silence, respectability, and unchecked authority.

It asks a broader question: when cases involve sustained abuse, multiple victims, and a clear misuse of power  does a sentence like this actually serve justice or should there be bleaker repercussions implemented?