In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Walter Chahwanda, 34, an evangelical pastor, was jailed for nine years for the systematic grooming and sexual abuse of children. On appearing at Liverpool Crown Court, the defendant—of Plemonstall Court, Chester—was found guilty of 17 sexual offences committed against girls aged 14 to 17 between 2017 and 2020. It was reported that Chahwanda also sexually assaulted a child under the age of 14, using his religious authority to target victims across Manchester, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and Kent.
The investigation established the predatory nature of Chahwanda’s online and physical conduct. Merseyside Police reported that the pastor used TikTok and Snapchat to groom young girls within the church community, sending them intimate videos of himself. The prosecution reported that Chahwanda, formerly a pastor in the Apostolic Faith Mission before founding the Sound of Dominion church in Speke, dismissed his sexualised conversations as “naughty” role play when questioned by detectives.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Chahwanda profoundly damaged the lives of his victims by abusing the power inherent in his clerical position. Liverpool Crown Court heard that although the church had been made aware of several complaints by women, it had failed to take appropriate safeguarding steps. The investigation established that Chahwanda was found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a child, six counts of sending indecent images, and multiple counts of causing a child to watch sexual acts and sexual communication.
Judge David Swinnerton noted that Chahwanda had exploited his role to harm young women and children who looked to him for guidance. For his actions in Speke and across the UK, Chahwanda was handed a nine-year custodial sentence with an additional five years on extended licence. The judge noted that despite character references describing him as “selfless,” the reality was a predator who used his “Sound of Dominion” ministry as a front for large-scale grooming.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Walter Chahwanda is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 9 years in prison (Sentenced 2019).
- Extended Licence: 5 years (commences upon release).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following a Merseyside Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual activity with a child (5 counts); Indecent images (6 counts); Sexual assault; Sexual communication.
- Origin: Plemonstall Court, Chester (Offences also in Speke, Merseyside).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Chahwanda is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at the highest level of scrutiny. Due to the nature of his conduct in Speke, which involved the grooming of children through social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his position of trust within the evangelical community necessitated a lifelong registration on the Sex Offenders Register to prevent him from ever returning to a position of authority over children.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Chahwanda must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity, residence, and digital activity. Authorities state that his history of using “Sound of Dominion” to target victims across multiple counties necessitates permanent vigilance by local offender management teams. Any future attempt to approach a minor, provide religious instruction to children, or fail to disclose his location to the authorities will result in immediate arrest and a return to the prison system.
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