WHITECROSS MAN ONISMO ZHAKATA CAUGHT TAKING PICTURES OF NAKED CHILD IN WARRINGTON

In a disturbing incident that has shocked the local community, Onismo Zhakata, a resident of Whitecross, was caught in the act of taking inappropriate photographs of a young girl in Warrington town centre. The incident occurred in June of the previous year, when a member of the public was sitting on a bench along Horsemarket Street. From his vantage point, the witness observed Zhakata, aged 43, seated on another bench nearby, leaning forward with his mobile phone directed towards a group of children playing in a water fountain.

What drew immediate concern was the fact that Zhakata appeared to be zooming in on his camera, seemingly taking pictures of a three-year-old girl who was playing naked in the fountain. The witness's suspicion prompted him to confront Zhakata directly. As the situation unfolded, the girl’s mother, along with police officers patrolling the area, were informed of the suspicious activity.

Upon being approached, Zhakata initially offered an apology for his actions. However, during subsequent police interviews, he provided a bizarre and implausible explanation. He claimed that he was on a video call with his family, who had expressed concern about the color of his lips, which he said had turned white due to his asthma. He further stated that he was attempting to take a selfie at the time but was having difficulty seeing his phone screen because of the bright sunlight. According to Zhakata, he was trying to adjust the brightness of his phone but inadvertently zoomed in on the camera, leading to the inappropriate images.

Following his arrest, officers seized Zhakata’s mobile device for examination. The analysis revealed a disturbing collection of content, including an indecent video and six extreme pornographic images involving animals. Additionally, investigators discovered that Zhakata had taken three photographs of the naked child in the street. The phone’s deleted items contained a video that had been sent to him via a WhatsApp group chat. This particular clip, which had gone viral in Africa, depicted a nanny caught on camera abusing a child.

During a court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Zhakata admitted to charges of taking indecent images, possessing indecent images, and possessing extreme pornographic images. Despite the severity of these charges, he was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for a year. The court also imposed a series of additional measures, including a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement, both valid for ten years. Zhakata was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and was subjected to a rehabilitation activity requirement lasting up to 30 days. Furthermore, he was instructed to pay a victim surcharge. The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his mobile phone to prevent further misuse of the device.

This case highlights the ongoing concerns regarding the safety of children in public spaces and the importance of vigilant community members in reporting suspicious behavior to authorities.