May 2014

Convicted paedophile allowed to grill his victims at Jehovah’s Witness meeting

A convicted paedophile grilled his traumatised victims about their ordeals in a series of meetings organised by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Women who complained that former Jehovah’s Witness elder Jonathan Rose, 40, had molested them as children relived their nightmares in front of him after he was released from jail.

In October, Rose was jailed for nine months for abusing two little girls, one aged five, another aged 10, at the Jehovah’s Witness congregation he belonged to.

The two victims came forward after a third woman, who Rose had previously been acquitted of molesting as a teenager, branded him a ‘paedo’ on Facebook.

Rose, of New Moston, was released early from jail in March.

The three complainants were told if they wanted him barred from the church they would have to recount their ordeal before elders.

Rose was even allowed to ask the women about the abuse he was jailed for – as eight elders looked on.

A source, who asked not to be named, said: “Before each meeting the women were read a scripture on false witnesses and told to consider it carefully. They had to go through the abuse in detail and were asked if they encouraged it. One of the victims was asked if she had enjoyed it.

“At the third meeting Rose was present. He questioned the women in detail about the abuse with no one stepping in to stop bullying as would happen in court.

“The victims had already done this in court, which elders attended. But even though it was very distressing they bravely went through it again. They were told that unless they did, he would not be disfellowshipped.”

It’s understood Rose was finally ‘disfellowshipped’ after complaints to the police and Charity Commision.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses do not deny the meetings took place, but say Rose is ‘no longer’ a Jehovah’s Witness, or allowed to ‘share in activities’.

They said no-one would be ‘forced’ to confront an ‘alleged perpetrator’, adding that victims were supported with ‘spiritual shepherding’, with members’ welfare of ‘paramount concern’.

A spokesman’s statement said: “You ask about allowing individuals such as Mr Rose to attend our congregation meetings. As our congregations are places of public worship, they are open to the public. Nevertheless, elders will always comply with restrictions imposed by the courts or police on offenders’ movements.

“When a Jehovah’s Witness is accused of child abuse, local congregation elders are expected to investigate. If a victim wishes to address a matter, this can be done directly or in writing.

“No victims are forced to attend a meeting or confront an alleged perpetrator of child abuse. Of course it may not be possible to handle a matter in the congregation until the authorities have completed their investigations or if the person is incarcerated. Jehovah’s Witnesses certainly do not condone child abuse.

“Child abuse is abhorrent.”

October 2013

Jail for Jehovah’s Witness elder who molested girls

A Jehovah’s Witness elder who was exposed as a paedophile on Facebook has been jailed.

Jonathan Rose was branded a hypocrite as he was locked up for molesting two little girls he met through the church.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Rose, of Northfield Avenue, New Moston , won the trust of his victims’ families before targeting  their daughters. His youngest victim was just five-years-old when she was groped by him in her own home. The other was ten when Rose, then 27, kissed her sexually.

Rose was first accused of indecently assaulting a teenage girl he met through the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1995. He was acquitted of that offence in a trial and went on to become an elder in his congregation.

However, after his first accuser branded him a ‘paedo’ on Facebook , his crimes against the two other girls came to light. Rose was found guilty of two charges of indecent assault and has now been jailed for nine months and banned from visiting homes where there are children present.

The joiner, who is married with children and continues to protest his innocence, showed no emotion as he was  jailed and made subject to a sexual offences prevention order. He must sign the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard that he even sat in judgement in a church ‘investigation’ into the second victim when she was a teenager.

Her ‘entirely normal’ teenage behaviour was thought to be ‘inappropriately sexual’ by elders.

Antony Longworth, defending, handed the judge a bundle of supportive letters from fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses which he described as expressing ‘disagreement or disbelief’ about the guilty verdicts.

But Judge David Stockdale QC told Rose: “You are now utterly disgraced – even though many members of that community still place a great deal of faith in you. The Jehovah’s Witnesses… upholds very high standards of moral behaviour – you deviated altogether from those standards.”

The family of Rose’s first accuser say they were encouraged to cover up their allegation. He was cleared of groping the then teenage girl in 1995 trial, but she would go on to be a witness in the latest court case. Her family say they were hounded out of the Jehovah’s Witnesses when they expressed concerns.

Her father told the M.E.N: “They held a meeting where they stood on a platform and said no-one should ever take a ‘brother’ to court. They dismissed our complaint as something that happened between teenagers.

“We were ostracised, and then told to get out of the congregation after the trial.”

A spokesman for the Jehovah’s Witnesses said: “Everyone has become more aware of how to deal with these issues in recent years. In no way would the Jehovah Witnesses purposefully try to protect anyone who is accused of serious crimes.”