EXETER CHURCH YOUTH WORKER JONATHAN WRIGHT INVOLVED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL

In January 2009, a disturbing case emerged involving Jonathan Wright, a man with ties to Exeter and the local church community, who was found to have been involved in the possession and distribution of indecent images of minors. Wright, aged 41 and residing on Thorn Close in the Whipton area of Exeter, was revealed to have downloaded a significant number of child pornography images from the internet at his home, raising serious concerns about his conduct and character.

Wright was employed by the Met Office, earning approximately £26,000 annually, but was suspended from his position following the allegations. The details of his employment were not publicly disclosed, but it was understood that he was likely to face dismissal as a result of the investigation. His role at the Met Office involved responsibilities that included conducting criminal record checks on volunteers at Whipton Chapel, where he also volunteered and was actively involved in youth work. Despite his involvement in church activities, it was confirmed that he did not commit any offences directly within the church premises.

His association with Whipton Chapel began after he moved from Bracknell, coinciding with the relocation of the Met Office to Exeter. Initially, he was welcomed into the church community, and a criminal records check conducted by the church returned a clean slate. Wright took on voluntary duties, including coordinating the church’s criminal record checks, drafting child protection policies, and assisting youth leaders. Church leaders regarded him as a well-liked and trusted member of the congregation.

However, concerns about Wright’s behavior and attitude towards young boys surfaced over time. These concerns were based on comments he made in emails and his personal use of the Bebo social networking site. Church authorities responded by banning him from working directly with the youth club, closely monitoring his activities, and offering him support to seek help for his issues. Despite these measures, further alarm was raised when Wright created a Bebo profile under the guise of a teenage boy, adding minors outside the church community as friends and engaging in suspicious online activity.

Authorities became involved when church leaders discovered his online activities, which included setting up a webpage on Bebo pretending to be a teenager. Police investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of images stored on Wright’s home computer, which ranged from Level One to Level Four in terms of offensive content. The images included 1,795 at the least severe level and 215 at the more severe levels, depicting boys aged between 12 and 15.

Prosecutor James Taghdissian highlighted that Wright had no prior convictions before moving to Exeter in 2002. His initial integration into the church community was facilitated by a letter of introduction from his previous church, and a criminal record check at that time returned negative. Wright’s role at the church was initially seen as positive, involving responsibilities such as overseeing criminal record checks and helping with youth activities. Nevertheless, church leader Jonathan Bishop expressed concern over Wright’s inappropriate comments and interest in underage boys, which prompted the church to monitor him closely and eventually report him to the police.

Wright was arrested in 2007, and subsequent searches of his computer revealed a large cache of indecent images of boys aged 12 to 15. The court was told that the images were graded from Level One, the least offensive, to Level Four, which is more serious. The total number of images included 1,795 at Level One, 222 at Level Two, three at Level Three, and 215 at Level Four.

During the court proceedings, Wright’s defense counsel, Warren Robinson, emphasized his client’s emotional vulnerability and lack of prior sexual relationships. He also noted that Wright had been assessed as suitable for treatment to address his issues. The court, presided over by Recorder Ros Collins, sentenced Wright to a three-year community order. This included conditions such as supervision, mandatory participation in a sex offender rehabilitation program, and the requirement to register as a sex offender for five years. Additionally, Wright was subject to an indefinite Sex Offences Prevention Order, which prohibited him from engaging in any work or voluntary activity involving boys under 18.

The Met Office confirmed that Wright had been suspended from his employment, and an ongoing investigation was underway, though no final outcome had been announced at the time. Whipton Chapel’s representative, Jonathan Bishop, stated, “We have a child protection policy and as soon as concerns became known we operated within that to protect children. He was suspended from working with children while police investigations took place.”

This case underscores the importance of vigilance within community organizations and highlights the potential risks posed by individuals involved in youth work, even when initial background checks show no concerns.