CHRISTOPHE BEJACH BUSTED IN BAYSWATER AND WESTMINSTER: FRENCH ADVISOR'S SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Bayswater and Westminster, Christophe Bejach, a 53-year-old former advisor to the French Minister of Economy and Industry, was apprehended by police in connection with child exploitation offences.The arrest followed an undercover operation that uncovered a disturbing online scheme involving the planning of a sexualized photoshoot with three young girls, aged just eight, ten, and twelve.
Between April and July 2016, Bejach purchased a collection of tiny lingerie from Amazon, ostensibly for his girlfriend, who was described as 'very slightly built.' However, the investigation revealed that his intentions extended far beyond innocent shopping.
He had outlined a detailed and disturbing fantasy to the girls’ mother, Sadie, on an extreme pornography website, not realizing that Sadie was actually an undercover officer from the Metropolitan Police’s cyber crime unit, posing as a child abuser.
During the court proceedings, Bejach admitted to devising the plan, but he claimed that his purchase of the lingerie was solely for his partner.
Despite this, the evidence presented in court painted a far more sinister picture.
The judge, Joanna Korner, dismissed Bejach’s account, criticizing his credibility and stating that his claims undermined the full extent of his remorse.
She described the evidence as revealing a disturbing intent to photograph and sexually exploit the children, with Bejach explicitly expressing interest in having actual intercourse with the eldest girl.
The court heard that Bejach had engaged in explicit online conversations with Sadie, during which he described his desires and intentions in graphic detail.
He sent photographs of underwear to Sadie and expressed a desire to photograph the children in the lingerie, with some chat logs indicating a preference for the older girl.
The judge highlighted that Bejach’s account was not credible, especially after discovering a stash of child abuse images at his residence, which included seven Category A images—depicting the most serious forms of sexual abuse involving penetration.
Despite the gravity of the offences, Bejach was spared immediate imprisonment.
Judge Korner sentenced him to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of arranging a child sex offence and possessing indecent images of children.
The judge acknowledged mitigating factors, including Bejach’s previously 'impeccable character' and a psychological report indicating he was in a 'depressive state' during the period of offending.
The report suggested that his repressed desires may have been triggered by his mental health issues, which the judge considered relevant in her decision.
Prosecutor Daniel Robinson emphasized the disturbing nature of Bejach’s intentions, stating that he aimed to establish a long-term abusive scenario involving the children.
The court was told that Bejach had expressed a desire to involve the girls in sexual activities, with one comment indicating that he found the idea of a sexual encounter with the eldest girl particularly arousing.
The prosecution also revealed that Bejach had purchased a camera and photographs of underwear, intending to use them during the planned photoshoot.
In his defense, Bejach claimed that he was not in his right mind and that his online communications were fictional, part of his creative writing projects, including a book and a play.
He admitted to telling Sadie that he had been sexually abused as a child and that he had suffered abuse from his mother, but insisted that these were lies used to manipulate the conversation.
He also stated that he believed Sadie was attempting to blackmail him, which led to his withdrawal from the plan after a meeting at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch, London, on 28 April 2016.
Following the arrest, police raided Bejach’s Bayswater residence in July 2016, uncovering a collection of 60 child abuse images, including seven Category A images depicting penetrative sexual acts.
Bejach’s professional background is notable; he holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the prestigious Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) de Paris.
He co-founded Terra Nova, a leading French think tank, in 2006, and later established the airline L’Avion, which was successfully sold to British Airways.
He also served as an advisor to Arnaud Montebourg on aerospace, defense, energy, and mining sectors, and held senior positions in various financial and investment firms.
As part of his sentence, Bejach was ordered to complete 100 days of an accredited treatment program, participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities, and was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
He is also required to register as a sex offender for ten years, surrender his computer, pay £1,200 in prosecution costs, and observe strict bail conditions, including a curfew and restrictions on internet use.
He had previously paid a security deposit of £100,000 and surrendered his passport, reflecting the seriousness of the case and the measures taken to prevent further offending.
