4 days ago
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Spindrift
Billy Coull sent the woman messages from a Facebook account under a false name
The man behind the infamous Wonka experience in Glasgow has been put on the sex offenders register after bombarding a woman with explicit pictures.
Billy Coull, 36, was found guilty of abusive behaviour after repeatedly sending the messages referring to himself as a “wolf” and the woman as his “prey”.
Coull made news across the world in February after photos of his bizarre and lacklustre Wonka event, costing £35 ticket, went viral on social media.
He admitted the offence at Glasgow Sheriff Court, saying the Willy Wonka backlash had taken a toll on his mental health.
The court heard that the former charity worker messaged the woman from a Facebook account under a false name in March.
He continued to message her on Snapchat and WhatsApp and repeatedly referred to her as “sexy,” “sugar lips” and “my wee charm” despite her asking him to stop.
The Wonka event was cancelled due to complaints from parents
Coull then began sending images of himself in his underwear as well as more intimate images.
One message on 2 July read: "I'm the wolf and you are my prey, I will get you.”
Coull was arrested after the messages were reported to police.
His lawyer, Neil Stewart, told the court his mental health had “declined” during the fallout from his Wonka event, held in Whiteinch in Glasgow.
"Willy's Chocolate Experience" had been advertised by Coull with fantasy images of sweetie-themed worlds - inspired by the Roald Dahl character and the Wonka films.
Instead, visitors were confronted with an “abandoned and empty warehouse” filled with drab props, with actors reading from an AI-generated script.
One character called "The Unknown," who does not feature in the original Roald Dahl story, was described as an "evil rival chocolate maker who lived in the walls".
The character "The Unknown" does not feature in the original Roald Dahl story
Coull, of Anniesland in Glasgow, who ran the event through his House of Illuminati firm, was accused of “scamming children” by parents outside the event.
He later promised all those who bought tickets would be issued refunds.
Photos taken at the event became global news and spawned a Channel Five documentary and a musical version.
Sentencing Coull, Sheriff Mark Maguire said: "She told you to stop and you failed to desist and sent further messages of a menacing nature.
"She told you to desist from using sexual language but despite this, you sent intimate images and messages of an alarming character.”
The judge said the custodial threshold had been passed but he was able to impose an alternative to custody.
He was given 120 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for a year.
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