Jacky Jhaj, a British man previously convicted of sexual offenses, was arrested in France for attempting to organize a fake wedding to a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris. His history includes a 2016 conviction for sexual activity with minors, leading to his placement on the sex offenders register. Jhaj, 39, was apprehended after an actor hired to play the bride's father alerted authorities.
The mock wedding was scheduled for Saturday and had garnered around 100 French extras for the filming. Jhaj’s troubling past was highlighted in a recent BBC investigation, which revealed that he had exploited children during various staged productions, including a fake film premiere where kids were paid to act as enthusiastic fans. This included hiring minors who were directed to scream for him without being informed of his identity.
Since his release from prison, Jhaj has managed to orchestrate events involving children, despite being under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He had also gone as far as to film himself naked in front of a burned-out mock BBC News van in another bizarre stunt. After the Disneyland incident came to light, it was disclosed that he had spent considerable amounts, possibly exceeding €130,000 (£110,000) for the planned ceremony.
Despite the seriousness of his actions, the child involved in the mock wedding allegedly had not faced any physical or sexual harm, as confirmed by the French prosecutor. Nonetheless, they stated that Disneyland Paris had been duped into permitting the gathering under false pretenses. The authorities are currently investigating how Jhaj financed these extravagant productions, given his criminal history and the restrictions placed on him.
The Metropolitan Police in the UK have reiterated their concern over Jhaj's activities and are in communication with French officials regarding his case. The episode has sparked renewed discussions about the safety measures in place for children in the entertainment industry and the responsibilities of platforms like YouTube, which hosted videos linked to Jhaj’s productions for several years before they were taken down following media exposure.
