Founder of “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” Placed on Sex Offender Registry

### The Rise and Fall of “Willy’s Chocolate Experience”: A Cautionary Tale of Hype, Harassment, and Consequences

In the fast-paced world of events and immersive experiences, William Coull’s “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” quickly rose to infamy for all the wrong reasons. What appeared to be a whimsical, family-oriented tribute to the beloved “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” turned into a widely mocked disaster, leaving participants disappointed and betrayed. But the botched event was only the beginning of Coull’s troubles, as his actions escalated far beyond poor event planning.

In a twisted, bizarre sequence of events, Coull has now been registered as a sex offender in Scotland after incessantly harassing a woman with explicit messages and images. This combination of missteps has transformed him from an over-ambitious event organizer to a public villain dealing with criminal convictions and public scorn.

#### The Willy’s Chocolate Experience: A Viral Fiasco

Billing itself as a magical “immersive experience,” Coull’s Willy Wonka-inspired event in Glasgow promised a wonderland of chocolatey delights. But attendees were met with a poor imitation that will be remembered more for apps that generated promotional images and half-hearted installations than any sense of wonder. The lackluster setup, located in a dreary warehouse and manned by unimpressed staffers, fell so short of expectations that it became the subject of ridicule and memes across the internet.

The event featured uncharacteristically gloomy elements such as a despondent Oompa Loompa and a mystery character named “The Unknown,” both of whom somehow inspired popular costumes for Halloween later in the year. Families who had paid £35 (~$44) per ticket anticipated fun but were left appalled by the poorly designed spaces, confused staff, and overall lack of meaningful activities. Many children reportedly cried, and the event was shut down by police within hours of opening.

Following its immediate closure, Glasgow locals even auctioned off prop items from the experience, with proceeds going to support Palestinian mutual aid efforts — one small, positive outcome from Coull’s initial failure.

#### Coull’s Legal Troubles and Harassment Allegations

The catastrophic mismanagement of the “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” might have been forgiven as an example of poor event planning, but what ensued truly sealed Coull’s reputation as a destructive figure. Not long after the event ended in disaster, Coull found himself facing criminal charges for harassment.

According to court reports, William Coull, aged 36, began targeting a woman on Facebook with unsolicited and inappropriate messages, using a fake account. Over a multi-month period spanning from late March 2023 to early July, he harassed the woman through Facebook, Snapchat, and Whatsapp. His messages ranged from inappropriately affectionate to outright disturbing, referring to the victim with endearing terms like “sexy,” “sugar lips,” and “my wee charm.” The messages soon escalated, with Coull sending explicit images of himself, including pictures of him in his underwear and more graphic content.

In one particularly chilling message sent in July, Coull proclaimed, “I’m the wolf, and you are my prey. I will get you.” Despite repeated demands that he stop, Coull continued the harassment until he was eventually reported and arrested.

#### Criminal Conviction and Sentencing

Following his arrest, Coull appeared in Glasgow Sheriff Court, where he admitted to his actions. He was subsequently registered as a sex offender in Scotland and sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid community work. Moreover, he remains under legal supervision for one year. His defense attorney, Neil Stewart, attributed Coull’s behavior to what he described as a “decline in mental health,” which had worsened after the negative backlash surrounding the Willy Wonka experience.

However, community members and former event attendees, such as Stuart Sinclair, who had purchased tickets to the “Willy’s Chocolate Experience,” expressed their dismay not only at the failure of the event but also at Coull’s disturbing behavior. Though the event itself was an unfortunate flop, they believe Coull’s actions beyond the fiasco needed stricter consequences. As Sinclair noted, “He needs to face some consequences for his constant terrible actions.”

#### The Bigger Picture: Accountability in Entertainment and Beyond

William Coull’s downward spiral serves as a dramatic and cautionary tale about accountability at all levels — from public relations mismanagement in organizing an event to personal behavior that crosses legal and moral boundaries. In Coull’s case, the world of immersive experiences, a sector increasingly reliant on social media promotion and viral trends, allowed a poorly executed project to garner widespread attention more quickly than ever.

While the internet age allows creative entrepreneurs to launch events and reach audiences globally, it also makes accountability more immediate and widespread. Coull’s attempt to market “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” fell flat due to the transparency and public feedback that is typical