A former Newry, Mourne and Down DUP councillor who admitted two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child has avoided prison.
William Walker, 60, posed as a younger man and asked two “children” to send him pictures in their school uniforms. However he had actually contacted members of a so-called paedophile hunter group acting as decoys.
The Newry, Mourne and Down District Councillor who represented the Rowallane DEA was arrested in February on suspicion of attempting to meet a child following potential sexual grooming.
Speaking to Clanrye News and Sport back in February a spokesperson for the PSNI said:
“A 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, yesterday (Tuesday 22nd February) in the County Down area.”
The allegations relate to a story that was first reported by Belfast Live whereby a so called “paedophile hunter” organisation made claims that a Facebook account was used to sexually groom two decoys posing as underage girls.”
He was sentenced to 100 hours community service and three years’ probation.
At Downpatrick Crown Court, which was sitting in Belfast, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC told Walker his claim he had no sexual interest in children had to “be viewed with scepticism”.
Walker who also served as chairman of the former Down District Council was suspended by the party after his arrest in March 2022 and later resigned.
At the time a spokesperson for the DUP said:
“William Walker has been suspended from membership pending the outcome of the police investigation.”
The court head Walker set up a fake Facebook profile in the name of Peter Patterson and contacted “Sammy Jo” on 11 February 2022 by sending her a friend request. Aware that “Sammy Jo” was 14, Walker exchanged messages and asked her to be his girlfriend. He then discussed teaching her how to kiss, talked about having sex with her and taking her virginity and asked if they could meet. The former councillor also told her: “I bet you look stunning in your school uniform.”
Judge Miller told the court he had received a character reference from a DUP councillor.
He said he “obviously doesn’t know” Walker very well “or he wouldn’t describe him as a man of good character”.
He was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 