Pastor Convicted of Child Abuse: Safeguarding Lessons and responsibilities for churches and faith leaders

Liverpool Evangelical pastor Walter Chahwanda, 34, has been jailed for nine years after a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found him guilty of 17 sexual offences against teenage girls and a child, committed between 2017 and 2020. He will serve an additional five years on extended licence.

Prosecutors said Chahwanda groomed victims on TikTok and Snapchat, targeting girls across Manchester, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and Kent. His victims included girls aged 14 to 17 and one child under 14. The convictions include sexual activity with a child, sending indecent electronic images, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and sexual communication with a child. He also sexually assaulted a child under 14.

Chahwanda had previously served in the Apostolic Faith Mission before founding Sound of Dominion in Speke, Merseyside. During the trial, jurors heard the church had received several complaints about his conduct but failed to take appropriate safeguarding action. When first questioned by police, he admitted engaging in sexualised conversations online but tried to downplay them as “naughty” and “role play.”

Sentencing him, Judge David Swinnerton said Chahwanda had “deeply damaged” his victims and “abused the trust and power you had in your position that you held in the church to abuse these young girls within the church community.” The Crown Prosecution Service praised the victims’ courage for coming forward.

Lessons and responsibilities for churches and faith leaders

• Take all concerns seriously and act immediately
  Record allegations, remove the person from any contact with children, and report at once to police/children’s services and, where applicable in the UK, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). Do not handle allegations internally or informally.

• Clear safeguarding governance
  Adopt a written safeguarding policy approved by trustees/elders; appoint a trained Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputy; report regularly to leadership and, if a charity, meet Charity Commission expectations.

• Safer recruitment and ongoing checks
  Use robust vetting, references, and DBS checks for all staff and volunteers working with children; repeat checks periodically and when roles change.

• Boundaries and supervision
  Enforce a two-adult rule, open-door meetings, and transparent scheduling; prohibit private meetings or transport with minors; require parental consent and visibility for youth activities.

• Digital safety
  Ban private 1-to-1 messaging between leaders and minors on social media; use approved, monitored channels; keep communications group-based and archived; train staff on online grooming risks.

• Mandatory training
  Provide regular, scenario-based safeguarding training for all leaders, volunteers, and trustees, including how to recognise grooming, respond to disclosures, and escalate concerns.

• Whistleblowing protection
  Create confidential reporting routes and protect those who raise concerns from retaliation; encourage a culture where questioning behaviour is normal and expected.

• Independent oversight
  Use external audits or consult independent safeguarding bodies (e.g., NSPCC, Thirtyone:eight) to review policies, investigate concerns, and test culture and compliance.

• Victim-centred response
  Offer immediate safeguarding, trauma-informed support, and signposting to specialist services; communicate with transparency while protecting privacy and ongoing investigations.

• Record-keeping and pattern detection
  Keep secure, detailed logs of concerns, decisions, and actions; review regularly to spot patterns or repeat boundary violations.

• Codes of conduct and discipline
  Publish clear behavioural standards for leaders and volunteers; apply consistent, timely sanctions for breaches, however “minor”, to prevent escalation.

This case underscores that safeguarding is not optional or reputational management, it is a legal and moral duty. Prompt reporting, firm boundaries (including online), independent oversight, and a culture that prioritises the safety of children over the status of leaders are essential to protect the vulnerable and prevent abuse.

If your organisation needs safeguarding training or support, please use this email to contact our team: info@tulia.org.uk