Man took own life after paedophile hunters’ sting

The body of Paul Andrew Williams, 55, was found in the water near Caernarfon’s historic town walls in the early hours of 2 September last year.

An inquest at Caernarfon heard that Mr Williams had been confronted by The Underworld paedophile hunters group, who livestreamed the encounter on Facebook. He was subsequently arrested by police.

A detective from an online child abuse investigation team told the inquest that a member of the Underworld group claimed to have evidence Mr Williams had been in sexual communication with three “children” as part of a sting operation.

However, following Mr Williams’ arrest and the seizure of his devices, forensic analysis found no evidence of indecent images, no real-life victims, and no real attempts to meet children for sexual purposes.

The case was discharged and Mr Williams was given an adult caution – which authorities were in the process of issuing at the time of his death.

Police found a letter which detailed the impact of the hunters’ activities, which had led to him losing his job – a role as a senior quality assurance officer for a food company that had been a significant part of his life.

📍 CCTV footage showed Mr Williams, of Palace Street, Caernarfon, walking past The Anglesey Arms pub towards the seafront before entering the water. At 7.16am, a police officer was made aware of a possible body in the water and spotted a black coat and a body face down approximately three to five metres from the shore. The coastguard arrived to retrieve the body.

Assistant coroner for north-west Wales, Sarah Riley, concluded that Mr Williams intended to end his life and recorded a conclusion of suicide.

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