Why is Brother Porter Smiling?
In 2002 a letter was written to all congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the UK when the television program "Panorama" brought forth allegations that abuse was being covered up.
The letter stated in part,
“Our position is that the secular authorities deal with crime while elders deal with sin. To avoid a miscarriage of justice elders must not interfere with, prevent, or impede any secular investigation into child abuse. They must ensure that secular laws are adhered to (Romans 13:1)
To that end they are instructed to contact the legal dept at Bethel whenever they receive information from even one person who alleges that child abuse has occurred. When a report is received guidance is given by the legal dept to ensure that:
1. The alleged victim and other potential victims are protected from possible abuse.
2. The council is given to report crime to the proper authorities and to comply with any additional legal requirements.”
As you can see members were led to believe that elders would report all abuse. Yet as you can see in the articles below, Porter was not only molesting kids over a twenty years period, but when it was brought forward only when, “one of his victims threatened to go to the police.” Where were the legal department and the elders? Note the quote from several news sources, “The church said yesterday it would support him.” What does the church say about the 24 victims and their support?
Nothing.
For these reasons many view Jehovah’s Witnesses as a “pedophile paradise” with members like Porter finding support after molesting dozens of children.
Wife: I stand by Jehovah pedophile!
Loyal ... Joanne walks hand in hand with her pervert husband
By ANTHONY FRANCE
Crime Reporter
September 17, 2007
THE wife of vile Jehovah’s Witness pedophile Michael Porter vowed to stand by her man yesterday. Porter, 38, who abused a baby and 12 other young boys, was released by a soft judge last month.The Sun tracked him down to his new home, near where he strolled hand in hand with loyal wife Joanne. The couple mingled with shoppers — including children — in Edgware, North London.A family friend said: “Joanne says she married Michael for better or worse.
“He is a changed man and she is proud to be seen out and about with him. Her love will save him.”
But a shocked mum who saw Porter out shopping said: “He should be swinging on the end of a rope, not walking the streets as a free man. He’s a disgrace.” Porter is still a Jehovah’s Witness and calls at the homes of local people unaware of his sick past to promote the faith.
Joanne’s loyalty mirrors that of the wife of disgraced actor Chris Langham who was jailed for ten months on Friday for possessing child porn.
On the streets ... Porter strolls past mum and baby
A judge showed mercy after reading a moving letter from the star’s wife Chrissie, 54. Porter — a ministerial servant to Jehovah’s Witness church elders in Clevedon, Somerset — molested boys by putting his hands down their trousers in “playfights”. One victim was interfered with as he slept in bed while another woke to find Porter on top of him. He abused the boys — aged from 18 months to seven — when he was trusted to act as a babysitter, take kids camping and host sleepovers. Porter — supported in court by Joanne — carried out the attacks over a 14-year period in the 1980s and ’90s.
Judge Tom Crowther caused outrage when he spared him jail for 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency after hearing he had undergone therapy.
He gave him a three-year community rehabilitation order at Bristol Crown Court, banned him from working with under-18s and put him on the sex offenders register.
The judge said “personal” issues in Porter’s childhood made his actions “understandable”. However, Porter’s own sister Tina Hughes, 40, branded the judge “rubbish” and disowned her brother.
She said: “He’s an evil monster with no soul. He’s not human. The fact he is flesh and blood is irrelevant to me. To me he is 6ft under. Dead.”
The Attorney General is considering whether to appeal against the sentence.
Pedophile freed despite multiple assaults
August 23, 2007
A leading Jehovah's Witness who was branded an "evil monster" by his own sister was spared prison today, despite being convicted of 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on children - one of which was committed on an 18-month-old baby.
Michael Porter, 38, of Barnet, north London, was handed a three-year community rehabilitation order despite having admitted to using his trusted position as a ministerial servant in the movement to indulge his habits as a pedophile.
At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Tom Crowther said he had opted not to jail him after hearing he had undergone therapy. As well as the community order, Porter was banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and put on the Sex Offenders Register.
In a highly unusual move, however, Porter's sister Tina Hughes, 40, spoke out against the ruling, which she described as "ludicrous", and warned that her brother would commit further offences now he was back in society.
"He (Mr Porter) blamed his childhood for the attacks, which was a lie, but the judge ate it all up," Ms Hughes, from Clevedon, said.
"I just broke down in tears when the judge said he wasn’t going to jail. The whole courtroom went quiet. No-one could believe it.
"I can’t believe the judge thinks he is safe to be allowed out on the streets. He won’t stop. There’s no justice for the victims. No closure. He had no right to leave that court room. He has lost nothing. He’s just not human. He’s an evil monster. He can’t have a soul."
The court heard that Porter was a respected member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Portishead and Clevedon, when he committed his crimes.
Parents trusted him to look after their children, and Porter regularly babysat for youngsters, took them away on holidays and invited them for sleepovers at his home.
"He was in a very high position. Children loved him and parents worshipped him," Ms Hughes said. "They thought he was God’s son on earth. He was the last man they would ever suspect of doing something so horrific.
"He abused dozens of children and even a baby. But he’s still free."
Mr Porter's current Jehovah's Witness Church has stood by him despite confessing to his crimes, according to his sister. He is thought to be an elder at the Mill Hill Kingdom Hall, in Barnet, north London. **(Mill Hill is where Bethel is located)
Wayne Baker, a spokesman for Avon and Somerset police, said that it was "too early to say" whether the force would be appealing against the judgment.
"There are a large number of victims to consider, many of whom just want to draw a line under the whole matter," he said.
The Crown Prosecution Service was not prepared to comment at this stage, but it is understood police officers were disappointed that only four victims were prepared to make statements against Porter.
A source said: "One of the problems was that most of the victims were not prepared to make statements or give any kind of evidence. The offences took place a long time ago and most of them seemed keen to put it all behind them."
'Evil monster' spared jail term
By LUCY WATERLOW
August 23, 2007
A PREDATORY paedophile walked free from court today despite admitting carrying out a string of sex attacks on children.
Michael Porter, 38, used his trusted position as a ministerial servant in the Jehovah’s Witnesses to prey on young children in Clevedon, Somerset over a 14-year period.
One of his victims was an 18-month-old baby.
Porter, of North London, pleaded guilty to 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on children at Bristol Crown Court today.
But Judge Tom Crowther opted not to jail him and handed him a three-year community rehabilitation order after hearing he had undergone therapy.
Porter was also banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and put on the Sex Offenders Register.
But the sentence provoked a fierce reaction from Porter’s own sister, who said the “ludicrous” punishment was an insult to his victims.
Tina Hughes, 40, from Clevedon, said: “I’m absolutely disgusted. I’m very, very angry. We thought he would get a sentence of at least 12 months.
“I think the judge was absolutely pathetic. He just took my brother’s side completely and believed that all he needed was a bit more therapy and now realised he had done wrong.
“He blamed his childhood for the attacks, which was a lie, but the judge ate it all up.
“I just broke down in tears when the judge said he wasn’t going to jail. The whole courtroom went quiet. No-one could believe it.
“I can’t believe the judge thinks he is safe to be allowed out on the streets. He won’t stop.
"There’s no justice for the victims. No closure. He had no right to leave that court room.
“He has a lovely life. He has a religion standing by him. He has lost nothing. He’s just not human. He’s an evil monster. He can’t have a soul.”
Avon and Somerset Police are thought to be considering appealing against today’s sentence.
Man escapes jail for sex attacks
Porter was put on the Sex Offenders Register
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6960166.stm
Thursday, 23 August 2007, 14:22 GMT 15:22 UK
A Jehovah's Witness has escaped a jail term after admitting a series of sexual assaults on children and adults in Clevedon.
Michael Porter, of Okehampton Close, north London, admitted 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on 13 victims aged 18 months and older.
Among the individuals were others involved in the faith.
Judge Tom Crowther at Bristol Crown Court sentenced Porter to three years of community rehabilitation.
The judge opted not to jail Porter after hearing he had undergone therapy and was a changed man.
He was banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and put on the Sex Offenders Register.
But Porter's sister, Tina Hughes, said: "I am absolutely disgusted. He should not have walked free.
Many of the families involved have been completely traumatized
Det Con Lisa Finch
"He has lost nothing. We have to tell the victims we have got no closure. He is an evil person. He is not human."
Det Con Lisa Finch, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Many of the families involved have been completely traumatized. It has turned their lives upside down."
Avon and Somerset Police are thought to be considering appealing against the sentence.
Norman Brennan, founder of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: "If we're to reassure parents and send out a strong deterrent message to pedophiles, then those convicted should face prison sentences that both punish and deter others."
The court was told that Porter, 38, carried out the assaults between 1986 and 2000.
Babysitting youngsters
He was a respected member of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Portishead and Clevedon.
Parents trusted him to look after their children, and he regularly babysat for youngsters, took them away on holidays and invited them for sleepovers at his home.
He finally admitted what he had done after one of his victims threatened to go the police.
Porter declined to comment as he left court with his wife.
Paedophile walks free after string of sex attacks over 14 years
Last updated at 15:55pm on 23rd August 2007
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=477301&in_page_id=1770
Michael Porter pleaded guilty to 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on children
A predatory pedophile has walked free from court after admitting carrying out a string of sex attacks on children.
Michael Porter, 38, used his trusted position as a ministerial servant in the Jehovah's Witnesses to prey on young children in Clevedon, Somerset over a 14-year period.
One of his victims was an 18-month-old baby.
Porter, of Okehampton Close, North London, pleaded guilty to 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on children at Bristol Crown Court today.
But Judge Tom Crowther opted not to jail him and handed him a three-year community rehabilitation order after hearing he had undergone therapy.
Porter was also banned from working with anyone under the age of 18 and put on the Sex Offenders Register.
But the sentence provoked a fierce reaction from Porter's own sister.
She said the "ludicrous" punishment was an insult to his victims.
Tina Hughes, 40, from Clevedon, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. I'm very, very angry. We thought he would get a sentence of at least 12 months.
"I think the judge was absolutely pathetic. He just took my brother's side completely and believed that all he needed was a bit more therapy and now realized he had done wrong."
She added: "He blamed his childhood for the attacks, which was a lie, but the judge ate it all up.
"I just broke down in tears when the judge said he wasn't going to jail. The whole courtroom went quiet. No-one could believe it.
"I can't believe the judge thinks he is safe to be allowed out on the streets. He won't stop.
"There's no justice for the victims. No closure. He had no right to leave that court room.
"He has a lovely life. He has a religion standing by him. He has lost nothing. He's just not human. He's an evil monster. He can't have a soul."
Avon and Somerset Police are thought to be considering appealing against the sentence.
'Monster' Pedophile Walks Free From Court
Thursday, 23 Aug 2007, 3:00 PM EDT 08/23/2007 --
A pedophile whose sister has branded him a "monster" has walked free from court - despite admitting 24 sex abuse charges.
Michael Porter abused his position in the Jehovah's Witnesses to prey on young children in Somerset between 1986 and 2000.
One of the victims was 18 months old.
A judge at Bristol Crown Court decided not to jail the 38-year-old after hearing he had undergone therapy.
Instead he was given a three-year community rehabilitation order.
His own sister said the "ludicrous" punishment was an insult to his victims.
Tina Hughes, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. I'm very, very angry. We thought he would get a sentence of at least 12 months. He's just not human. He's an evil monster. He can't have a soul."
Porter left the family's home in Somerset and moved to London in 2000 after his mother died and was later made an elder.
Worshippers in Mill Hill, Barnet, have stood by Porter despite confessing to his crimes, according to his sister.
"His religion is his full-time job. They're backing him and have not thrown him out. He'll still be in contact with children and be visiting houses door-to-door."
She said Porter was supported in court by his wife Joanne, with whom he now intends to start a family.
Avon and Somerset Police are thought to be considering appealing against the sentence.
Pedophile who abused baby walks free
Jehovah's Witness guilty of abuses over 15 years
· Sister attacks 'ludicrous' rehabilitation order
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2155269,00.html
Steven Morris
Friday August 24, 2007
The Guardian
A predatory paedophile walked free from court yesterday after admitting a string of sex attacks on children, including an 18-month-old baby.
Michael Porter, 38, used his trusted position as a prominent Jehovah's Witness to prey on youngsters, many of them children of members of the church.
A respected member of the church in Somerset, Porter regularly babysat for youngsters, took them on holiday and invited them for sleepovers at his home.
He pleaded guilty to 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency over 15 years. But at Bristol crown court Judge Tom Crowther handed him a three-year community rehabilitation order after hearing he had undergone therapy.
The sentence provoked a fierce reaction from Porter's sister, who said the "ludicrous" punishment was an insult to his victims.
Tina Hughes, 40, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. I'm very, very angry. I think the judge was absolutely pathetic. He just took my brother's side completely and believed that all he needed was a bit more therapy and now realized he had done wrong.
"He blamed his childhood for the attacks, which was a lie, but the judge ate it all up. I just broke down in tears when the judge said he wasn't going to jail. The whole courtroom went quiet. No one could believe it.
"I can't believe the judge thinks he is safe to be allowed out on the streets. He won't stop. There's no justice for the victims. No closure. He had no right to leave that courtroom.
"He has a lovely life. He has a religion standing by him. He has lost nothing. He's just not human. He's an evil monster. He can't have a soul.
"He was in a very high position. Children loved him and parents worshipped him. They thought he was God's son on earth. He was the last man they would ever suspect of doing something so horrific. He abused dozens of children and even a baby. But he's still free."
Porter was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Portishead and Clevedon. He left the family home in Clevedon and moved to Mill Hill in London in 2000 after his mother died. Porter, who was supported in court by his wife, Joanne, confessed after one of his victims threatened to go to the police.
The church said yesterday it would support him. But it denied claims by Porter's sister that he would continue to come into contact with children through his religion and visit families.
A spokesman said: "He will be carefully supervised."
The Labour MP Dan Norris, a former child protection officer, said the decision would underline public perception that judges were "out of touch".
He said: "It's deeply disturbing that a man that has committed serious offences against children has avoided prison. This judge's decision will reinforce the public view that child sex offenders are treated far too lightly and that our judges are out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people."
The prosecution is believed to be considering an appeal against the sentence.
A catalyst for campaigns to increase jail terms for pedophiles was the case of Craig Sweeney, who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl. At his sentencing in June last year he was told he could apply for parole just five years into his life sentence. The then home secretary John Reid provoked controversy when he suggested the sentence given was too lenient.
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Church pedophile walks free
Weston & Somerset Mercury, UK - 39 minutes ago Aug 29 2007
An elder in the Jehovah's Witness church who sexually assaulted a baby and a toddler will never be safe on the streets said his Clevedon sister as he walked ...
An elder in the Jehovah's Witness church who sexually assaulted a baby and a toddler will never be safe on the streets said his Clevedon sister as he walked free from court.
Michael Frederick Porter molested 13 victims in North Somerset.
The married church elder, who grew up in Portishead, groped boys as they slept in bed or took advantage of tiny children as he babysat them.
The 38-year-old, of Friern Barnet, London, was only brought to book after he was reported to the elders of the Jehovah's Witness church in Portishead.
Porter then made a full confession to his own church group in London.
He admitted three charges of committing an act of gross indecency and 22 charges of indecent assault and was handed a three-year community rehabilitation order and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order stopping him from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18 and living or sleeping at an address where there are children under 18, until further order.
However his sentence outraged his sister, 40-year-old Tina Hughes, from Churchill Avenue, Clevedon.
Following the hearing at Bristol Crown Court she said she was 'absolutely distraught' for all her brother's victims and the fact he 'walked'.
"He has gone back to London and left us to pick up the pieces. He hasn't lost anything. He hasn't even lost his wife. He hasn't been affected in any way. He can go away and pretend nothing has happened because he doesn't have to live here.
"He is who he is, a paedophile. He will never be safe on the streets."
Robert Davies, prosecuting, said not all Porter's victims were aware they had been abused, including an 18-month-old baby and a three-year-old boy.
He said the sex attacks happened in the 1980s and 1990s. One victim was repeatedly molested as he slept in bed and woke once to find the defendant on top of him.
Mr Davies said the last victims Porter interfered with were aged just five and seven.
Telling how the paedophile was forced to confess his sins, Mr Davies said one victim reported him to the elders at the Jehovah's Witness church in Portishead where Porter's family were said to be members.
"Michael Porter was entirely apologetic for what he had done and said he would speak to his elders. He sent his order a text message to say others had been involved (victims).
"He arranged to make a confession to them. He was advised sensibly to go to the police," said Mr Davies.
He said the defendant handed himself in to police in Weston-super-Mare last October and confessed.
Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said her client knew he had destroyed and injured people's lives.
"Any show of public hatred towards him he understands," she said.
She added: "But for his admissions, his incredibly full and frank admissions, the matter would not be before the court today."
Sentencing Porter, Judge Thomas Crowther QC said: "This is a case which in my experience is exceptional, in a sense historic and revealed by you in unusual circumstances which I am sure are linked with the faith by which you now run your life.
"I'm satisfied, having the advantage of a number of reports as to your early background, that the reasons for your behaving as you did are complex and personal and reveal that you were subject to pressures which make it understandable that you should have acted as you did in this case.
"What's important, in terms of sentence, to realise is that you had changed your life before there was any question of these matters being revealed and I'm as satisfied as I can be, whereas in some circumstances punishment by way of imprisonment is inevitable, this is not one of those, and the proper sentence is a community rehabilitation order.
Pedophile freed in 'horrific' verdict
By Rebecca Lowe
A pedophile who committed a string of sex attacks against children as young as 18 months old was spared jail last week, prompting a torrent of criticism over the leniency of his sentence.
Michael Porter, 38, of Okehampton Close, North Finchley, walked free from Bristol Crown Court last week, despite admitting three charges of gross indecency and 22 charges of indecent assault.
Judge Thomas Crowther QC decided that 'complex' issues in Porter's childhood made his actions 'understandable' and sentenced him to a three-year community rehabilitation order.
He was also handed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, banning unsupervised contact with children under 18 and living or sleeping at an address where there are children.
Judge Crowther said: "What's important to realize is that you had changed your life before there was any question of these matters being revealed and I'm as satisfied as I can be."
The Attorney General is considering appealing the ruling, which also sparked anger from Porter's victims, child welfare groups and his own sister, Tina Hughes.
Ms Hughes, 40, of Clevedon, near Bristol, said: "He hasn't lost anything. He hasn't even lost his wife. He hasn't been affected in any way. He can go away and pretend nothing has happened because he doesn't have to live here.
"Nothing happened to him as a child. He was the angel of all the family. He is who he is, a pedophile. He will never be safe on the streets."
Michele Elliott, of charity Kidscape, said the sentence was an 'appalling, horrific decision'.
She added: "If ever there was a man who deserved to be in prison, it's this man. He will be a continued danger to children for the rest of his life. I hope the judge can sleep at night."
Porter carried out his attacks between 1986 and 2000, groping boys as they slept in bed and taking advantage of children as he babysat them.
He handed himself in to police in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, last October, after one victim went to leaders of the Portishead Jehovah's Witness church, where he and his family were members.
Robert Davies, prosecuting, said some of the victims were unaware they had been abused, including an 18-month-old baby and a three-year-old boy.
This week, leaders of the Jehovah's Witness church refuted widespread claims that the church was standing by the pedophile.
Jehovah's Witness spokesman Tony Brace, based at the church's national headquarters at The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, said: "Anyone who has been convicted of this type of offence would be removed from office immediately. He would neither be allowed to be an elder nor a charity trustee.
"Of course, he could attend as a member of the public, but the elders of that particular church would keep a strict eye on him."
Peter Bell, presiding overseer of Jehovah's Witness centre, at Kingdom Hall, East Barnet Road, denied media reports that Porter had ever been an elder there. He said: "The courts misreported the facts. Porter has never been an elder here and never will be. He will not be an elder anywhere.
"He was removed from the church in November as soon as his actions were known. We have a strict protocol that anytime something like this happens, we direct them to go immediately to the police, which is what he did."