Walter Chahwanda, 34, former pastor turned predator, was today slammed with a 14-year sentence at Liverpool Crown Court for a series of terrible sexual offences against young girls. He will serve nine years behind bars, plus five years on an extended licence.
Trusted Pastor Exploited Church Kids
Chahwanda, once a respected figure in the Apostolic Faith Mission, later founded his own church in Liverpool called Sound of Dominion. Over four years, he preyed on vulnerable children and young women he met through church activities nationwide.
He targeted victims by adding them on Snapchat and Instagram, starting innocent chats before twisting conversations into explicit remarks about their appearance. Then, he sent disturbing intimate videos and pictures of himself performing sexual acts.
Disturbing Abuse Hidden Behind Spiritual Authority
One victim was just 14 when Chahwanda sexually assaulted her. He even taunted some girls, daring them to expose his abuse—a sick kink linked to his fear of getting caught.
Despite warnings to the church and victims speaking out, Chahwanda carried on, with his crimes escalating over time. His position of trust made the shocking abuse all the more devastating for those involved.
Justice Served After Lengthy Investigation
- Arrested first in February 2024 and again in April 2025 following fresh leads
- Denied all charges except admitting to “naughty” sexual chats, claiming they were just role play
- Prosecuted on 22 counts; convicted on 17 after a jury trial
- Found not guilty of rape, assault by penetration, and one charge of sending explicit images
- Two blackmail charges were dropped by CPS and not tried
Chahwanda was sentenced today, bringing relief to his many victims and sending a clear message: abusive predators hiding behind faith will face the full force of the law.
