Cardiff University employee named in US lawsuit alleging grooming and abuse by Salvation Army-linked individual

The Salvation Army is facing a civil lawsuit in the United States involving an employee of Cardiff University who is accused of grooming and abusing a child. The lawsuit names Joel Collier, an impact officer at the university, as the alleged perpetrator. According to the claim, Collier began his relationship with the victim at a Salvation Army music camp in 2017 when she was 14 years old. The lawsuit alleges that Collier was previously fired by the Salvation Army’s eastern territory in 2014 for sending sexually graphic texts to a minor and was placed on an internal register of suspected abusers.

Collier, who was 35 at the time, joined Cardiff University in June 2023. His job description indicated he worked with academics to develop the impact of their research, and his salary was listed at up to £43,155 annually. The lawsuit claims that after being fired by the eastern territory, Collier was hired by the southern territory in 2015, which allegedly allowed him to continue his abusive behavior. He is accused of sending the victim sexually explicit messages and coercing her into sending intimate photos of herself.

The claimant alleges that Collier began sexually victimizing her when she was 14, including sending her unsolicited footage of himself masturbating on her 18th birthday in March 2020. The lawsuit states that Collier repeatedly initiated sexual contact with her in the following year and that she attempted to take her own life as a result of his ongoing abuse. It further claims that over the next two years, Collier engaged in non-consensual intercourse and other violent, perverse, and obscene sexual acts against her.

The lawsuit highlights the alleged pattern of Collier’s behavior, including his efforts to dismantle the victim’s ability to consent. It describes how he made explicit demands for sexual acts once she turned 18 and threatened her with negative consequences if she did not comply. The case raises concerns about the internal processes of the Salvation Army and its handling of allegations against its employees, particularly those in positions of influence within its charitable and community outreach programs.

The Salvation Army has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, but the university has stated it is “looking into” the matter. The case underscores the need for accountability and transparency in organizations that serve vulnerable populations, including those involved in youth ministry, music camps, and community outreach. The allegations against Collier, if proven, would represent a serious breach of trust and a failure to protect children within the context of the Salvation Army’s mission of care and service.

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