Zimbabwean pastor faces UK jail

A former evangelical pastor has been convicted of a string of sexual offences after exploiting his position of trust to target young girls and women across the country.

Walter Chahwanda, 34, of Plemonstall Court in Chester, was found guilty of 17 offences at Liverpool Crown Court on 3 February 2026. The charges included sexual assault and sending explicit images and videos to victims, one of whom was a 14-year-old child. He will be sentenced on 20 March 2026.

Chahwanda had previously served as a pastor in the Apostolic Faith Mission before establishing his own church in Liverpool, Sound of Dominion. Over a four-year period, he used church-related activities to meet children and young women, later contacting them via Snapchat and Instagram.
Pattern of Abuse

Investigators revealed that Chahwanda's method was consistent across multiple victims. He initially engaged in casual conversations online before steering them into sexualised discussions. Without warning, he would send intimate images and videos of himself, often performing sexual acts.

In some cases, he pressured victims to expose his behaviour to others, incorporating the risk of being caught into his sexual fantasies. His actions left victims shocked and confused, particularly given his respected role within the church community.

Despite complaints being raised with church leaders and victims confiding in others, Chahwanda continued his offending, which escalated over time. The father of one victim reported the abuse to the NSPCC, while others sought help from police and support organisations.
Arrest and Trial

Chahwanda was first arrested in February 2024 and interviewed again in April 2025 after further victims came forward. During questioning, he denied the allegations but admitted to sexualised conversations online, dismissing them as "naughty" role play.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) initially authorised 22 charges relating to nine victims. Chahwanda pleaded not guilty to all counts. The jury ultimately convicted him on 17 charges, while acquitting him of rape, assault by penetration, and one charge of sending a sexual image. Two counts of blackmail were dropped after the CPS offered no evidence.
CPS Statement

Aaron Smith, a lawyer with the CPS Mersey Cheshire Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, praised the courage of the victims in coming forward:

"Walter Chahwanda used his position as a respected Pastor to abuse a 14-year-old child and cause distress to multiple young women and children. He had no regard for their wellbeing or vulnerability and was solely focused on his own sexual gratification.

Thankfully, eventually, the victims were listened to and Chahwanda was arrested. He continued to deny that what he had been doing was criminal and said the victims had consented. He passed off his offences as harmless.

The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank the victims and witnesses in this case for their courage and support in this prosecution. Without their testimony, Walter Chahwanda would not have been brought to justice."