October 2004 Life for ‘predatory paedophile’ A paedophile has been jailed for life after he admitted abducting an 11-year-old boy and carrying out a string of sexual offences. Anthony M Williams, 52, of Canton, Cardiff, was discovered when a police officer spotted him walking along with the boy who was fighting back tears. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Williams had convictions for sexual offences going back 29 years. He admitted two counts of child abduction and nine sexual offences. Computer technician Williams targeted the boy over a three-day period, on one occasion snatching him from a park as he waited for friends. Prosecutor Ieuan Morris said: “Williams is a convicted paedophile and continues to be a sexual predator and a danger to children.” “The experience was terrifying and on occasions the boy was detained for as long as three hours, locked inside Williams’ flat.” Mr Morris said Williams’ flat was “littered with the sordid paraphernalia of paedophilia – computers with child porn websites, and dirty magazines”. The court heard that the boy was plied with beer, cigarettes and money by Williams. Mr Morris added: “He was subjected to all manner of sordid sexual abuse.” Williams was caught after being recognised by a policeman in Cardiff city centre. Mr Morris said: “Pc Adrian Green saw Williams walking with a young boy who appeared distressed and on the brink of tears. He spoke to the boy who revealed the string of sex acts Williams had committed against him.” ‘Targets and grooms’ Tom Crowther, defending, said Williams had been attempting to deal with his paedophilia. He said: “This is a man struggling with an impulse that is criminal and wrong but deeply-seated. He had been on a sex offender treatment programme but that ended through a lack of funding.” Judge John Griffith Williams QC jailed Williams for life, banned him from working with children and ordered him to register as a sex offender. He told him: “You are clearly a predatory paedophile who targets and grooms young children. You were using this boy whenever you could for your perverted sexual gratification. “It is fortunate indeed that Pc Green saw you and the boy together and was able to bring your abuse to an end. “Having regard to your history of previous offending and your inability to control it I am satisfied you are likely to commit similar offences in the future.”