Boss of shambolic Willy Wonka experience is unmasked as sex pest

by · Mail Online

The boss behind the infamous Willy Wonka experience has pleaded guilty to being a sex pest who sent a woman explicit pictures and bragged about being a 'wolf'.

William Coull, 36, hounded his victim at a property in Glasgow's Darnley area between March 26 and July 2, a court heard. 

Coull repeatedly sent explicit pictures and messages to her despite being told to stop.

In one of his texts Coull leered that he was a 'wolf' and she was his 'prey' - with his messages living his female victim traumatised, a court heard. 

Coull's campaign of harassment came amid the fallout of the infamous Willy Wonka Experience which he organised in February this year but went viral worldwide for the shockingly poor state of the attraction.

Families forked out £35 a ticket earlier for the event at a warehouse in the city's Whiteinch which was described as disastrous, ill-prepared and shoddy.

The 'immersive' experience was such a shambles that police were reportedly called in after irate parents expressed their fury. 

The convicted former charity worker, who was the director of the House of Illunmanati which staged the attraction - was forced to shut down the 'experience' amid claims the event left children in tears.

William Coull, who organised the shambolic Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow that went viral for how bad it was has pleaded guilty to being a sex pest (he's pictured in a Channel 5 documentary about the sham event)
Pictured is a scene from inside the Wonka experience that left parents and children in uproar 

Coull pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of criminal behaviour which was abusive.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for one year after his conduct was deemed to have a 'significant sexual element' to it.

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Coull was also sentenced today to 120 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for a year.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that Coull suffered a 'decline in his mental health' due to the 'significant media attention' which included a documentary on him.

He was accused of messaging his victim from a fake Facebook account in March.

He continued to message the woman on Snapchat and WhatsApp and used 'sexual language.'

Coull referred to her as 'sexy', 'sugar lips' and 'my wee charm.'

Prosecutor Iain Mathieson said: 'The woman requested that he stop using these names but he continued.'

The Wonka experience went viral worldwide for its lacklustre decorations (pictured)
The event was staged inside a warehouse in Glasgow with tickets costing £35 per person 
William Coull, the director of the House of Illumanati, the company which set up the shockingly bad immersive 'Willy's Chocolate Experience'

Coull went on to send her pictures of himself in his underwear as well as more intimate images which she 'did not ask for or want.'

Mr Mathieson added: 'Coull sent a snapchat of himself holding his belt with the caption 'Do you want me to do more?'

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'He then sent a picture in his underwear with the caption 'Do you want me to go further?'

The messages were ignored and Coull later sent a Snapchat of him removing his clothing until he was only wearing his underwear.

The woman asked Coull to stop sending the messages but they continued.

On July 2, Coull sent a Snapchat saying: 'I'm the wolf and you are my prey, I will get you.'

The matter was then reported to the police and Coull, of the city's Anniesland, was arrested.

Neil Stewart, defending, told the sentencing: 'He has been distressed with the proceedings and will never do something of this nature again.'

Sheriff Mark Maguire said that the custodial threshold had been passed by Coull but he was able to impose an 'alternative to custody.'

Pictured is a scene from inside Glasgow's Wonka experience which was slammed by parents 
Empty seats and illuminated 'chocolate factory' are pictured at the event in Glasgow 

He said: 'She told you to desist from using sexual language but despite this, you sent intimate images and messages of an alarming character.

'She told you to stop and you failed to desist and sent further messages of a menacing nature.

'To be frank, it is unlikely that but for the sexual nature of the material sent to the victim, this case would not be here and it is quite possible that it might not have been criminal.'

The court case comes after Coull admitted in a Channel 5 documentary earlier this year that the fallout from the Willy Wonka experience had destroyed his life. 

'My life has been turned around. My life is ruined,' he said in a documentary about the sham event.

He continued that he had received 'hundreds and hundreds' of messages online telling him he should end his life, that he is the 'devil', 'a villain' and even a terrible father. 

In his own defence Mr Coull he said: 'I was hoping for an event that would be joyful happy. I wanted people to experience happiness.'

One parent said in the documentary: 'I genuinely hope he is okay and I fear for his mental health and state of mind.'