The invention relates to a trench wall cutter for producing a trench in the ground having a cutter frame and at least one cutting wheel which is supported in a rotatable manner about an axis of rotation on the cutter frame and has at its outer circumference a plurality of ground working tools for removing ground material. The ground working tools are arranged along an annular path around the axis of rotation. Provision is made for the annular path to run asymmetrically to the axis of rotation of the cutting wheel, wherein the annular path has at least one first circumferential section with a larger distance from the axis of rotation and at least one second circumferential section with a smaller distance from the axis of rotation. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing a trench in the ground.