A former DUP councillor appeared in court to face charges of attempted sexual communication with children.
William Walker (60), formerly from Killyleagh, Co Down, and with a current address at Palentine Road in Blackpool, was charged with two separate offences of attempted communication with a child for the purposes of sexual gratification.
He pleaded guilty at Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, to a charge of attempting to sexually communicate with a child called ‘Sammy Jo’ on dates between February 10th and 15th, 2022.
When a second similar charge of attempting to sexually communicate with a child called ‘Daisy May’ on dates between February 10th and 23rd, 2022 was put to Walker, he replied ‘not guilty’.
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Although no details regarding the charges emerged today, it is understood they arise from information supplied to the police by a paedophile hunter group.
As a result of his admission to the first charge, Walker was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, the length of time he will spend on which will be determined at a later date.
Judge Geoffery Miller KC said he would review the case again on May 3rd and the former Mourne and Down District councillor was granted continuing bail.