Rev Ben Lovell, a well-known vicar who once baptised members of his congregation in the River Thames, has admitted sending nude images of himself via Snapchat to a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
The married father of two was arrested as part of a police investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Lovell, 44, held several prominent roles in local schools and believed he was communicating with a young teenager when he sent the messages through Snapchat, a platform widely used by young people.
Prosecutor Ross Davis told the court that Lovell had begun communicating with an undercover investigator posing as a child and that the exchange quickly became sexual.
The prosecutor said the priest also sent sexually explicit images of himself to the decoy account.
Further police inquiries established that the defendant was the vicar of St Mary’s, as well as a married man with two daughters.
Lovell pleaded guilty to one charge of engaging in sexual communication with a child and a second charge of causing a child under 13 to view an image depicting sexual activity. Both offences occurred during the same period.
He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutors argued that the seriousness of the offences required the case to be sent to the Crown Court for sentencing, which has greater powers to impose a longer prison term.
Rev Ben Lovell has admitted sending nude images of himself on Snapchat to someone he believed was a 13-year-old schoolgirl
The prominent vicar was caught during a police investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation
In 2018, Lovell (right) conducted St Mary’s first outdoor immersion baptism, baptising members of his parish in the River Thames
The 44-year-old priest, who held senior roles at local schools, believed he was messaging a young teenager when he used Snapchat to send the images
Davis told the court that Lovell was expected to receive a prison sentence of between 18 months and two years.
He described the case as involving a high level of culpability because Lovell solicited images and both sent and received sexual material.
Defending Lovell, Fred Batstone said the priest’s wife was “fully aware” of the circumstances.
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At the time of the offences, Lovell was serving as vicar of St Mary’s in Hampton, south-west London, and had previously been the area’s dean.
He had also been a director of Hampton School, which charges annual fees of £30,000 and has counted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Queen guitarist Sir Brian May among its former pupils.
Lovell additionally served on the board of the Instanter Learning Trust, created through the merger of St Mary’s Hampton Church of England Primary School and The Bishop Wand Church of England School.
In 2018, he led St Mary’s first outdoor immersion baptism ceremony, carrying out the baptisms in the River Thames.
Six members of the congregation took part, including three young people, one baby and two adults.
At the time he said: ‘Today sees our young adults and children follow in the footsteps of Jesus who was baptised in the river Jordan by John the Baptist.
‘Baptism symbolises cleansing, reviving and is the symbol of new life, not just to the candidates but also for those who are present.
‘It is also a way for teenagers and adults to declare their beliefs publicly.’
Lovell had formerly lived at St Mary’s Vicarage in Hampton but has since moved to an address in Kingston-Upon Thames.
The full case will now be heard at Kingston Crown Court at a date to be determined.
Lovell, who was given conditional bail, is due in court again next month for a pre-sentence report hearing.
Lovell has now been suspended from ministry, and stepped back from his other responsibilities.
A statement from the Diocese of London said: ‘Ben Lovell, former Vicar of St Mary’s Hampton, has appeared in court and pleaded guilty to criminal offences, related to attempted online communication with a minor, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.’
‘The alleged offences do not relate to his role at St Mary’s, or to any other role, or to his family.
‘On notification of Lovell’s arrest last year, statutory agencies and the Diocese coordinated to put safeguarding and risk management measures in place to protect the parish community and to ensure that children, young people and vulnerable adults remained safe.’