A popular vicar known for baptising his congregation in the Thames has admitted sending nude pictures of himself on Snapchat to someone he thought was a 13-year-old schoolgirl.
asserted
he → know → someone
Rev Ben Lovell, a married father-of-two, was snared during a police investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation.
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Lovell → snare → abuse
The 44-year-old priest – who also held prominent positions in local schools – believed he was talking to a young teen when he sent the messages on the Snapchat social media app, which is popular with young people.
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which → hold → people
Ross Davis, prosecuting, told the court: 'The defendant engaged via social media with the decoy [undercover investigator posing as a child] and the conversation was sexual.
'
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conversation → prosecute → child
He also sent indecent images of himself to the decoy.
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He → send → decoy
Further inquiries revealed he was the vicar of St Mary's.
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he → reveal → Mary
He is also married and has two daughters.'
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He → have → daughters
Lovell pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child and another of causing a child under 13 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity on the same dates.
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child → plead → dates
Lovell was appearing at Wimbledon Magistrates Court but the prosecutor said his offences were so serious that the case should be moved to crown court for sentencing as they have powers to impose longer sentences.
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they → appear → sentences
Rev Ben Lovell has admitted sending nude pictures of himself on Snapchat to someone he thought was a 13-year-old schoolgirl
The popular vicar was snared during a police investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation
In 2018, Lovell (right) led the first baptism by outdoor immersion at St Mary's when he baptised his parishioners in the River Thames
The 44-year-old priest – who also held prominent positions in local schools – believed he was talking to a young teen when he sent the messages on the Snapchat social media app, which is popular with young people
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which → admit → people
Mr Davis said Lovell is likely to be sentenced to between 18 months and two years in prison.
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Lovell → say → prison
'It is a high culpability offence as it included solicitation of images and also sexual images were sent and received,' he added.
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he → include → images
Fred Batstone, defending Lovell, said his wife was 'fully aware' of the situation.
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wife → defend → situation
He had also served as area dean.
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He → serve → dean
As well as that, he was a former director of £30,000-a-year Hampton School – attended by celebrities including Coldplay's Chris Martin and Sir Brian May.
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he → attend → Martin
He was also on the board of the Instanter Learning Trust, formed by the joining of St Mary's Hampton CoE Primary School and The Bishop Wand CoE School.
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He → form → School
In 2018, Lovell led the first baptism by outdoor immersion at St Mary's when he baptised his parishioners in the River Thames.
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he → lead → Thames
Six of the church congregation were baptised, including three young people, a baby and two adults.
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Six → baptise → people
At the time he said: 'Today sees our young adults and children follow in the footsteps of Jesus who was baptised in the river Jordan by John the Baptist.
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who → say → John
'Baptism symbolises cleansing, reviving and is the symbol of new life, not just to the candidates but also for those who are present.
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who → symbolise → those
'It is also a way for teenagers and adults to declare their beliefs publicly.
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teenagers → declare → beliefs
Lovell had formerly lived at St Mary's Vicarage in Hampton but has since moved to an address in Kingston-Upon Thames.
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Lovell → live → Thames
The full case will now be heard at Kingston Crown Court at a date to be determined.
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case → hear → date
Lovell, who was given conditional bail, is due in court again next month for a pre-sentence report hearing.
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who → give → hearing
Lovell has now been suspended from ministry, and stepped back from his other responsibilities.
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Lovell → suspend → responsibilities
A statement from the Diocese of London said: 'Ben Lovell, former Vicar of St Mary's Hampton, has appeared in court and pleaded guilty to criminal offences, related to attempted online communication with a minor, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
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Lovell → say → Police
'The alleged offences do not relate to his role at St Mary's, or to any other role, or to his family.
'
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offences → allege → family
On notification of Lovell's arrest last year, statutory agencies and the Diocese coordinated to put safeguarding and risk management measures in place to protect the parish community and to ensure that children, young people and vulnerable adults remained safe.'
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children → coordinate → community
The Aporia
