British Man Faces Charges After Orchestrating Mock Disney Wedding with Child
French authorities have charged a British national with multiple offenses, including money laundering and identity theft, following an unusual incident at Disneyland Paris. The man allegedly staged a fake marriage involving himself as the groom and a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl as the bride.
Details of the Unconventional Event
The ceremony was entirely fabricated, with the British suspect appearing heavily disguised to conceal his identity. French prosecutors revealed that the man, who has a prior UK conviction for sexual offenses against minors, recruited numerous individuals, including roughly 100 French extras, to pose as wedding guests. He also collaborated with a 24-year-old Latvian woman, who assumed the role of the bride’s sister, and enlisted other Latvian nationals to coordinate the event.
The mocked-up ceremony was to be held between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., outside Disneyland Paris’s regular public hours, on privatized premises costing approximately €130,000. However, once irregularities were discovered, Disneyland Paris swiftly cancelled the event.
Investigation and Charges
Authorities were initially alerted by staff concerned about a potential illegal child marriage. Subsequent investigations revealed the event was staged and not an actual marriage. The child was reported to have suffered no physical or sexual abuse and was not forced into participation.
The British man is currently wanted by UK authorities for breaching conditions as a registered sex offender. French police have taken him into custody, charging him with fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and identity theft. Prosecutors noted that he had masked his face with professional makeup during the event, making his appearance unrecognizable.
Background of the Accused and Previous Investigations
The suspect, identified as Jacky Jhaj, has a history of sexual offenses against minors, with a conviction dating back to 2016. Since then, he has been under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order but has allegedly persisted in organizing productions involving children for personal projects.
Investigations uncovered prior events he orchestrated, such as a fake film premiere in London featuring child extras as young as six, where he sought to portray himself favorably among young participants. Some videos of these productions were posted online and amassed millions of views before being removed following public concern.
Complexities and Unanswered Questions
Questions remain about how such costly and elaborate productions—with expenses running into hundreds of thousands of euros—were financed. The fraudulent use of a fake Latvian identity to rent Disneyland Paris has added another layer of complexity to the case.
The Ukrainian child involved reportedly arrived just two days before the event, and while she was not subjected to abuse or coercion, the disturbing nature of the incident has sparked significant concern among authorities and the public alike.
Official Statements and Ongoing Proceedings
Disneyland Paris emphasized its prompt action in cancelling the event once irregularities emerged. Meanwhile, the UK’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that they are in contact with French authorities and continue to seek the man on charges related to violations of sex offender regulations.
The case sheds light on the darker undercurrents of exploiting children through staged events and raises urgent calls for closer scrutiny of how such productions are managed and monitored.
