Creator of viral Willy Wonka experience William Coull placed on sex offenders register

William ‘Billy’ Coull, the man behind the infamous Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow that went viral earlier this year, has been placed on the sex offenders register following his conviction for harassing a woman with explicit messages and images. The harassment, which occurred between March 26 and July 2, 2024, left the victim deeply traumatised.

Coull, 36, repeatedly sent unsolicited explicit photos and messages, ignoring the victim’s requests to stop. His actions included sending alarming texts referring to himself as a "wolf" and the victim as his "prey." These incidents were reported to police, leading to his arrest.

The controversial Willy Wonka event, which Coull organized in February, faced intense public criticism for being poorly executed and upsetting families who had paid £35 per ticket. Amid this fallout, Coull’s harassment case brought further scrutiny. Glasgow Sheriff Court sentenced him to 120 hours of unpaid work and one year of supervision, in addition to registering him as a sex offender for a year.

Coull’s legal defense cited his declining mental health due to significant media attention, including a documentary about the disastrous event. However, the court underscored the severity of his actions, noting the menacing and sexual nature of the messages.