"Irish Mormon missionary who tried to lure kids for sex is nabbed in sting operation"

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-mormon-missionary-who-tried-10076289


"An Irish Mormon missionary who tried to have sex with three children he thought he had lured over the internet, was nabbed in a sting operation by UK police.

Pervert Joseph Shanks, originally from Co Westmeath, claimed he was doing “charity work” and would be rewarded by GOD.

But the twisted predator didn’t realise the children’s mother he met online in England was really an undercover officer and he was arrested before any abuse took place.

When the 63-year-old married father turned up to rape the ‘victims’ he thought were aged nine, six and three, he was arrested by officers.

Shanks, who lives in the Church of Latter Day Saints missionary home in Chorley, Lancashire, was jailed for seven years on Monday after admitting ten sex charges."

"He rang from a mobile number but when that didn’t work - he called from a landline registered to the Mormon Church’s missionary training centre in Preston."

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Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2017 02:29AM by pettigrew.

They don't mince words in the UK news that's for damn sure.

As well they shouldn't, for this... I hope the church gets nothing but negative publicity for this.

Most 63 year old perverts don't suddenly start to prey on children.

Exactly. A former bishop and stake pres of mine was convicted of molesting his granddaughters when he was in his 60's.

Growing up, I envied his daughters. I thought that because he held those positions he was a very good man and I thought they were lucky to have such a wonderful father and family.

Looking back, knowing what I know now about molestation, I'm pretty sure that he molested at least 2 of his 7 daughters just judging by their demeanors, the kind of boys they chose to date, and other aspects of their personal lives and relationships that I was aware of.

why was a 63 year old pervert living in a missionary home ?

And what's a missionary home ?

I think he was serving a senior couples mission with his wife, and I think they mean the Missionary Training Centre when saying "mission home". I suspect they were serving a temple mission, meaning he officiated at the baptistery and veil in the Preston temple. Think about the implications of that...

It says he admitted ten offences.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2017 08:05AM by pettigrew.

He would probably be staying in the Senior Missionary Couples Accommodation Centre on the Preston Temple grounds in Chorley,England.

This will be a scandal for the church in the small market town of Chorley.
Strange it hasn't been mentioned in the British press or the local Chorley newspapers so far.
Child sex abuse is usually headline news!

It wasn't. Somehow the Church has managed to keep it out of the local news and away from the local membership.

It's in this weeks local newspaper, Chorley Guardian.
A few acidic Comments so far!

http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/news/mormon-missionary-jailed-for-child-sex-offences-1-8479813

I think every mission area has a MP who reins over a big home where some of the missionaries reside. It's also where they usually stay at the end of service while they're waiting to go home or waiting for another residence to open up for them.

He wasn't the Mission President.

He was a senior missionary serving with his wife and living at the Missionary Training Centre next to the Temple.

That is awful.All those poor children.

But, but….. the spirit of discernment?
Now on Scientology’s Gold Base (California) when the compound was hit by a massive mudslide, everyone on permanent staff there was formally disciplined for failing to predict or prevent the incident. Mormonism should start doing this – if someone’s spirit of discernment fails when they are in a senior leadership calling, they should hauled before a court of love to be punished. But in mormonism bad things just get hidden - different cults different rules I suppose.

Weird journalism. Why'd they have to reference his Hyundai Tucson?

No Idea.
In England, Its a bit of a high end car for a missionary couple to have

I figured it was to show his judgement ;-)

EVIDENCE GATHERING.... he may have used it in OTHER Crimes. This way it may jog memories of seal a piece of evidence they MAY Be looking for on OTHER CASES..Its a tactic frequently used

cludgie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Weird journalism. Why'd they have to reference his
> Hyundai Tucson?

Not sure why it is "weird". This is pretty common tabloid journalism over here... although it is from an Irish paper, not an English one. (The offence took place in England.)

The reason they mention the car is all to do with witness sightings. If he has misbehaved himself somewhere else someone may recognise the car make and model.

He admitted to ten offenses. I wonder how many children he has molested over his lifetime.

Cheryl asks a great question:

He's 63 yrs old? Are there other victims?

Most 63 year old perverts don't suddenly start to prey on children.

How was this man able to recieve a temple recomend?Surely stake presidents interview people in a vigourous way.they scutinize people to the bone .

Could it be lack of discernment? lol

It's not just the recommend, he received a General Authority sanctioned Mission Call, to serve at the Temple Preston site where he would officiate at youth baptism sessions etc.

Chances are, if you have been 'through' the Chorley Temple over the last 12 months or so, there's a chance this guy brought you through the veil.

If sexual predators can be called to serve missions, the premises of the Holy Ghost's guidance and divine inspiration are utterly fraudulent.

Your kids aren't safe in the Temple.

I think he WAS a veil worker when he was around there at that time. I have a vague memory of him.

I don't remember him being on the baptistry.

I was taught that Mormonism made bad men good, and good men even better?

When I researched the history it was clear that Mormonism made good men bad. It turned them into sex predators and abusers.

This Joe Shanks guy is an absolute idiot. Did he think he was going to get these kids initiated into Celestial Glory or something?

What other church callings has this idiot served?

Would be great if anyone from the Chorley wards could update us on this complete ass.

pettigrew Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Irish Mormon missionary who tried to lure kids
> for sex is nabbed in sting operation"
>
> http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-mo
> rmon-missionary-who-tried-10076289
>
>
> "An Irish Mormon missionary who tried to have sex
> with three children he thought he had lured over
> the internet, was nabbed in a sting operation by
> UK police.
>
> Pervert Joseph Shanks, originally from Co
> Westmeath, claimed he was doing “charity work”
> and would be rewarded by GOD.
>
> But the twisted predator didn’t realise the
> children’s mother he met online in England was
> really an undercover officer and he was arrested
> before any abuse took place.
>
> When the 63-year-old married father turned up to
> rape the ‘victims’ he thought were aged nine,
> six and three, he was arrested by officers.
>
> Shanks, who lives in the Church of Latter Day
> Saints missionary home in Chorley, Lancashire, was
> jailed for seven years on Monday after admitting
> ten sex charges."
>
> "He rang from a mobile number but when that
> didn’t work - he called from a landline
> registered to the Mormon Church’s missionary
> training centre in Preston."
>
> ---------------------

Being kept to quiet for my taste and I know him and some of his history



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2017 06:38AM by gpty.

Not sure how they've kept it out of the press and from being common knowledge around the Stakes, but they have so far.

do most of the LDs members know about this scandal?Did they only hear about through the secular media?how are they reacting to this?

Fred Karger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> do most of the LDs members know about this
> scandal?Did they only hear about through the
> secular media?how are they reacting to this?

I live in his temple district, and hadn't heard a thing about it until recently (2023). Nothing through the local members at all.

I believe I met this man briefly. I think he was a veil worker. I used to know someone called Shanks and I think I asked if they were related.

This has now hit the local U.K. Press.

http://www.lep.co.uk/your-lancashire/chorley/mormon-missionary-jailed-for-child-sex-offences-1-8479813

Joseph smith? I mean shanks must be a distant relative it all runs in the family.

Too bad they can't be prosecuted for luring kids into Mormonism.

Well, at least he didn't drink a cup of coffee! Now that would have been (sniffle sniffle) (' weak little trembly voice) a REAL sin.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2017 06:34AM by aquarius123.

There's yourself a headline that writes itself:

Mormon Missionary Jailed for Child Sex Offences; Does Not Drink Coffee