Former councillor Paul Williams guilty of child abuse messages

The ex-Plaid Cymru councillor agreed his actions had been "abhorrent and obscene"

A former councillor has been found guilty of sending messages about the sexual abuse of children.

Paul Williams, 56, from Bernard Road, Wrexham, represented the Smithfield ward on Wrexham council.

Elected in 2022 for Plaid Cymru, he resigned in January.

He denied the charge at Wrexham Magistrates' Court, but was convicted of sending messages of a grossly offensive or obscene and menacing character.

Williams had used two pornographic websites to communicate sexual fantasies about young children with other users between 1 June and 26 August last year, the court heard.

However, he did not realise two people he was messaging were undercover police officers working for the National Crime Agency.

In the exchanges, Williams expressed his interest in children as young as five and described sexual acts he said he had carried out and hoped to participate in.

He also sent two pictures of young girls.

Williams told the court that he was ashamed of his actions and agreed that he knew his actions were "abhorrent and obscene" and for the purpose of the sexual gratification of himself and others.

He also agreed with the prosecutor Suzanne Cartwright that he had participated thinking he would not be caught out.

Williams was given unconditional bail and will be sentenced on 17 January.