Disgraced teen advocate William ‘Billy’ Russell lied about helping kids, court told, as he used social media to groom boys for sex
He claimed he warned kids about online predators. Instead, this self-styled teen advocate used the very apps he supposedly hated to groom boys — while lying about help he was providing.
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A disgraced teen advocate and self-confessed child sex predator’s public campaign against social media was a lie that did not help a single child stay safe online, a court has heard.
On Monday, the District Court heard expert analysis of William “Billy” Russell’s computers revealed the extent to which he deceived the South Australian community.
Andrew Fowler-Walker, prosecuting, said Russell promoted his Teen Support Network organisation in a Sunday Mail article just weeks after he pestered a boy for nude photos.
“We don’t allege he used (Teen Support Network) to deliberately gain access to young males, or that he didn’t genuinely try to help youths dealing with bullying,” he said.
“He was not honest in that article, however, when he suggested he used the network to warn young children of the threat of online sex predators.
“SA Police have reviewed his online material and there is no evidence to suggest he ever warned one young person.”
Russell, 24, of Findon, pleaded guilty to procuring a child for sexual activity, and to communicating with a child to make them amenable to sex.
He also pleaded guilty to both aggravated and basic counts of possessing child exploitation material.
In 2016, Russell earned a Young South Australian of the Year Award nomination for his Network, which he promoted as a way of helping those suffering from harassment at school.
He spoke out publicly against apps purporting to be Snapchat and KIK Messenger, saying they encouraged minors to “send nude photos of themselves and meet up for sexual encounters”.
On Monday, Mr Fowler-Walker said Russell had used the real Snapchat and KIK to contact his victims, exchange nude photos with them and arrange meetings in parks for sex.
He conceded none of those encounters went ahead, but only because the intended victims “got cold feet” after viewing his sexually explicit messages.
Michael Mead, for Russell, said his “extremely sorry” client was “ashamed and embarrassed” at having “hurt a lot of people”, and wanted a chance to make it up the community.
He acknowledged state law prohibited Russell from receiving a suspended or home detention sentence, but argued jail was “an onerous punishment” that would be “detrimental”.
“It is accepted, by the prosecution, that my client has an intellectual disability and did not have the most wonderful upbringing in terms of parental support,” he said.
Mr Mead asked the court adjourn Russell’s case for several months so he could undergo counselling prior to sentence, but Chief Judge Michael Evans refused.
He remanded Russell on continuing bail for sentencing next month.