Laugharne defendant confronted by paedophile hunters at St Clears Travelodge before suspended jail term at Swansea Crown Court

A LAUGHARNE man who turned up at a Carmarthenshire hotel believing he was meeting a thirteen-year-old girl instead found himself confronted by paedophile hunters and later sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.

William John Williams, fifty-nine, had been communicating online with what he thought was a schoolgirl. The profile was in fact a decoy set up by a vigilante group.

When he arrived at the Travelodge St Clears for a pre-arranged meeting, members of the group were waiting and contacted police, handing over screenshots of his messages.

Prosecutor Matt Murphy told the court that Williams first made contact with the fake Facebook profile in October 2021. The supposed age of thirteen was made clear from the outset.

Despite this, the defendant sent repeated sexual messages, spoke about masturbating, requested photographs and told the “girl” on several occasions that his penis was erect. He also sent topless photographs of himself.

The court heard Williams urged the account holder to delete the messages, acknowledging he knew he should not be sending them because of her age.

Second fake profile

Members of the group later created another false account, posing as a businesswoman from Swansea, and arranged a date with Williams at the hotel in St Clears. They then liaised with another group to attend the rendezvous.

When Williams arrived, he was challenged and police were called.

During interview he answered “no comment”. In a later interview in February 2023, he claimed he did not believe the child was real and said he thought he was exposing scammers.

The court rejected that explanation.

Williams, of Orchard Park, Laugharne, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He had no previous convictions.

Defence barrister Ian Ibrahim said more than four years had passed since the offending and highlighted delays of more than two years between arrest and court proceedings. He said the defendant, formerly employed in hospitality and construction, was now in poor health and had lost his good character.

Internet ‘unsafe for children’

Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards told Williams it was the actions of “grown men like you” that made the internet feel unsafe for children and caused parents and carers real concern.

After credit for his guilty plea, Williams was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.