Ex-DUP councillor pleads guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child online

19 April 2023

A FORMER DUP councillor has pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted sexual communication with a child.

Billy Walker (60), originally from Killyleagh but now with an address in Blackpool, appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, via videolink on Monday.

The offence was committed between 10 and 15 February 2022, with Walker pleading not guilty to a second similar charge.

Walker pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to sexually communicate with a child called ‘Sammy Jo’ for the purposes of sexual gratification.

When a second similar charge of attempting to sexually communicate with a child called ‘Daisy May’ between February 10 and 23 last year was put to Walker, he replied “not guilty”.

Walker resigned his seat on Newry, Mourne and Down Council after being charged with the offences last year. He was the last chairman of the old Down Council.

Although no details regarding the charges emerged, 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, with the length of time he will spend on the register to be determined at a later date.

Judge Geoffrey Miller KC said he would review the case again on May 3 and Walker was granted continuing bail.

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