A convicted paedophile has sparked outrage after he starred in red carpet scene alongside 200 child extras in Leicester Square – seven years after he was jailed for sex attacks on two 15-year-olds.
Youngsters as young as six were hired by talent agencies and were asked to wear school uniforms and pretend to faint as sick Jacky Jhaj, 38, paraded up and down the set on Leicester Square, at the heart of London.
They were not aware of the true nature of the man they had to cheer.
It comes less than a decade after the actor was found guilty on four counts of sexual activity with a pair of 15-year-olds after he posed as a Hollywood film producer.
Footage obtained by the BBC shows creepy Jhaj shaking his hands in celebration as he welcomes the applause in an extravagant red tuxedo, while in another he has removed his jacket and let down his long hair.
A third moment sees the pervert – who now calls himself ‘Jillah’ – in a white hoodie and tracksuit bottoms as he climbs over the railings and his young fans cheer.
Youngsters as young as six were hired by talent agencies and were asked to wear school uniforms and pretend to faint as sick Jacky Jhaj, 38, (pictured) paraded up and down the set on Leicester Square, at the heart of London
In 2016 Jhaj was jailed for four years after cruising around Hounslow, London in his silver Range Rover, giving them alcohol and taking them to parties held by others at their school
Footage obtained by the BBC shows creepy Jhaj shaking his hands in celebration as he welcomes the applause in an extravagant red tuxedo
Another moment sees the pervert in a white hoodie and tracksuit bottoms as he climbs over the railings and his young fans cheer
90 children aged six to 14 were hired by the production from one agency called Jam 2000.
And as many as 100 young women from 16-24 were hired from a second company, Uni-versal Extras.
Both agencies day actors were kept safe and the children had chaperones.
One young adult who attended the event told the BBC they were left ‘clueless’ over the exact nature of the show and were not told about Jhaj’s record or identity.
They said they were left feeling ‘sickened’ and ‘scared’ after finding out about his crimes – and have been having nightmares about it.
Another told the broadcaster they think it was ‘dangerous’ that they had so little information.
Text messages and correspondence to older extras seen by the broadcaster show that actors were paid £85 to be ‘die hard’ fans who would ‘cry, far-reach and faint’.
They were asked to wear a range of costumes including ‘Clubbing High School Uniform’, a ‘Harry Potter type look (came straight from school)’ and ‘PJs’, the BBC claims.
Uni-versal Extras has since emailed its actors saying it was not aware of Jhaj’s crimes until after the event.
Another email said the company had done an ‘extensive investigation’ and reported their concerns to the police.
One young adult attending the event told the BBC they were left ‘clueless’ over the exact nature of the show and were not told about Jhaj’s record or identity
Text messages and correspondence to older extras seen by the broadcaster show that actors were paid £85 to be ‘die hard’ fans who would ‘cry, far-reach and faint’
They were asked to wear a range of costumes including ‘Clubbing High School Uniform’, a ‘Harry Potter type look (came straight from school)’ and ‘PJs’, the BBC claims
The company’s director Liana Berko told the BBC she was ‘horrified’ to learn of his record – and had told the production company all footage taken of the event should be destroyed.
She added that all actors were over 16-and-a-half, and did not need chaperones.
Jam 2000 also said they were unaware of his identity, telling the BBC all their child cast were kept safe at all times and looked after by their 20 chaperones.
None of their extras had any contact with Jhaj, and they were kept away from the barriers.
The Odeon said that it had now terminated their agreement with the company for the event.
In 2016 Jhaj was jailed for four years after cruising around Hounslow, London in his silver Range Rover, giving them alcohol and taking them to parties held by others at their school.
The ‘dangerous’ predator pretended he was 21 – eight years younger than his real age – and a top Hollywood producer who had become friends with the young girls as research for a screenplay he was writing, The Standard reported.
He had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old a sexual activity with another girl.
Detective Constable Nav Johal, the investigating officer from Hounslow CID, praising the ‘young vulnerable victims’ at the time for their ‘courage and bravery’ while condemning Jhaj as a ‘dangerous sexual predator.
He has now been charged with two counts of failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sexual offenders’ register, the Met Police told the BBC.
He has also been charged with breaching his sexual harm prevention order by failing to supply a mobile phone for inspection.
Uni-versal Extras, Jam 2000, Odeon and Jacky Jhaj have been contacted for comment.