The Shocking Tale of a Convicted Offender’s Bizarre Stunts
Last weekend, news broke of a disturbing event at Disneyland Paris where a convicted paedophile arranged a mock wedding involving a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl. The ceremony, staged outside the park’s usual operating hours, was part of a larger pattern of elaborate, unsettling stunts by Jacky Jhaj, a British man on the Sex Offenders Register, whose actions have raised alarms across Europe.
How Did This Happen? Unpacking the Strange Saga
Jacky Jhaj, aged 39 and from west London, has a fraught history. Convicted in 2016 for sexual activity with two 15-year-old girls, he has repeatedly organized high-profile events involving young participants. These include fake film premieres in London’s Leicester Square, mock funerals, and staged explosions, all often featuring children or teenagers hired through legitimate casting agencies unaware of his background.
In 2023, Jhaj orchestrated a fake film premiere where more than 200 children and young women—some as young as six—were employed as his 'fans,' asked to cheer, scream, and even try to touch him. These events were typically high-budget productions, with costs reaching upwards of tens of thousands of pounds per occasion.
The Disneyland Paris Incident: A Costly, Ill-Fated Event
The recent Disneyland event reportedly cost over €130,000 (£110,000) to rent the park privately. The event was disguised as a private wedding, with professional makeup artists allegedly transforming Jhaj’s appearance. A nine-year-old Ukrainian girl flew in to take on the role of the bride. Approximately 100 extras were hired for the filming, which was intended for social media broadcast.
The park’s staff became suspicious when they noticed the bride’s age and promptly canceled the event. French authorities swiftly arrested Jhaj and charged him with fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and identity theft. Investigations revealed that Jhaj had used a fake Latvian ID to secure the venue booking.
Child Safety and Legal Gaps
Officials confirmed the child was not subjected to physical or sexual abuse during the event. Yet the moral and legal issues surrounding the use of minors in such productions, especially under the supervision of a convicted offender, have sparked outrage.
Jhaj was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that "restricts contact with girls under 16 and bans certain public places," but no explicit ban existed to prevent him staging events supervised by adults where children participated. This loophole has allowed him to continue organizing disturbing spectacles despite being monitored.
Uncovering the Hidden Network Behind the Stunts
Over two years of in-depth inquiries have shown Jhaj’s productions employed numerous cast and crew before his real identity became known. In some cases, collaborators were duped into participating, only discovering the truth after events concluded.
Financially, the source of Jhaj’s funding remains a mystery. Aside from a dissolved company listed in 2016, no clear income stream explains the lavish spending on venues, props, and personnel. High-cost items include hiring a tank, staging controlled explosions, and securing iconic London and Paris locations.
Social Media Presence Raises Serious Questions
Many videos from Jhaj’s events appeared on YouTube, amassing over 6 million views and a subscriber base of around 12 million, despite his low profile. Some content was distressing, featuring him with children and weapons and evoking his criminal notoriety.
Videos related to victims have lingered on platforms for years before intervention from authorities and platform owners initiated their removal.
Law Enforcement’s Challenge: Monitoring High-Risk Offenders
Managing sex offenders like Jhaj strains police resources. A recommended ratio is one officer for every 50 offenders, but many police forces operate beyond this threshold, some with officers handling over 80 individuals. This workload makes thorough oversight difficult and raises the risk of breaches going unnoticed.
Experts have called the current system "impossible to manage effectively," emphasizing the urgent need for better safeguarding within entertainment and tech industries that inadvertently enable offenders to operate publicly.
The Road Ahead
Jhaj remains in French custody pending further legal proceedings. British authorities continue investigations into breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and related offenses. Meanwhile, Disneyland Paris maintains it was deceived and promptly acted once aware of the situation.
This case highlights significant concerns about loopholes in managing convicted offenders and the protection of children from exploitation in staged productions and public events.
