Monk Escapes Prosecution After CPS Rules Nude Beach Photos 'Spiritual'
A Catholic monk who admitted sending naked photographs of himself to a woman holidaymaker will not be prosecuted after the Crown Prosecution Service determined the images were 'spiritual' in nature. Brother Titus Keet, 77, confessed to possessing approximately 200 pictures of himself posing nude on a beach at daybreak, maintaining they were not sexual but artistic expressions.
Unwanted Photographs Sent to Island Visitor
The monk sent some of these photographs to Lisa Love, 56, a visitor to Caldey Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire. Miss Love, a mother-of-two from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, reported receiving multiple images showing Keet exercising naked on one of the island's remote beaches. She subsequently went to police, leading to the monk's arrest in September 2024 on suspicion of harassment.
While on bail, Keet fled the island and is believed to be in Belgium. The Crown Prosecution Service informed Miss Love they would take no further action, citing that the photographs were considered spiritual. This decision has sparked controversy, with Miss Love accusing authorities of protecting the monk due to his religious background.
Victim's Outrage and Allegations of Grooming
Miss Love expressed disbelief at the CPS's ruling, stating: 'He's admitted sending the pictures, I can't understand why he is not being taken to court. He says the pictures are art and now the police are agreeing with him that they are spiritual.' She questioned the justification, asking where in the Bible it advocates prancing naked on a beach.
The tour guide met Keet 15 years ago while staying with her elderly parents on the island. After her mother's death in 2011, she continued holidaying there with her teenage daughters, striking up a friendship with the monk who helped her grieve. However, she was startled when he began enclosing nude photographs in letters, and later sent them to her mobile phone.
Miss Love reported the incidents to the monastery's Abbott, who disciplined Keet, but the monk continued sending images. She then informed Dyfed-Powys Police, who have previously investigated other monks on the island for sex offences. Miss Love described the CPS's decision as sickening, alleging it reflects a failure to understand grooming tactics, where sex offenders befriend victims.
Monk's Defense and Island's Troubled History
When confronted by media before his arrest, Keet, a 22-year resident of the holy island, confirmed he was the man in the pictures, calling himself stupid and naive. He defended the photographs as art, stating: 'I was putting my body in the light. I wanted to share with her the body and the light. It is the human body, in its original state. It's not sexual.' He denied any sexual gratification, keeping the images on a digital stick.
Caldey Island, which attracts 60,000 holidaymakers annually, has a sordid history of harbouring sex offenders and paedophiles. In the 1970s and 80s, over 50 children were allegedly sexually abused by Trappist monks, leading to a 2024 review recommending a 'no touch' policy to ban physical contact with tourists. Victims received meagre compensation, and the island's reputation remains tarnished.
Criticism from Survivors and Legal Recourse
Kevin O'Connell, who runs the Caldey Island Survivors Campaign, called the CPS's decision outrageous and appalling. He highlighted Dyfed-Powys Police's failures in investigating and supporting victims, suggesting it creates a culture of silence. O'Connell warned that without proper action, Caldey Island could remain a haven for perpetrators.
Miss Love has launched a Victims' Right to Review request through her solicitor, seeking to challenge the CPS's ruling. The CPS declined to comment due to this ongoing application. The case underscores broader issues of accountability and victim support in handling allegations involving religious figures.
