Ex-DUP councillor remanded
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Ballymena Councilllor, William Wilkinson.
LOCAL councillor, William Wilkinson has been charged with the rape and the attempted rape of a young woman.
The charges were put to the Portglenone man when he appeared at a special sitting of Ballymena Magistrates Court on Saturday (August 23).
Defence indicated that the former DUP representative denies committing the offences in the County Antrim area last Thursday (August 21).
The 31-year-old did not speak in Court last week, however, he nodded to confirm that he understood the nature of the charges.
Stating that she could connect Wilkinson, now a member of the Ulster Unionist Coalition Party, to the charges, a PSNI officer requested that he was remanded in custody.
The officer said police received a 999 call from a female in the early hours of Thursday and the words "get off me, get off me" were heard by the operator.
When officers arrived at the alleged injured party's house, the woman said the accused had raped her. It was also noted that the woman was in a "very distressed state."
When questioned by Defence, the officer revealed that Wilkinson has been interviewed six times since his arrest and confirmed that his story has not changed.
Asking that Wilkinson be released on bail, his solicitor said that as public representative and a project co-ordinator for a victim support group, he would return to Court because "he is determined to clear his name."
However, Prosecution expressed concerns that there would be a significant risk of witness interference.
District Judge Robert Alcorn said fears from the prosecution that the accused might attempt to get the injured party to withdraw her statement were valid.
Wilkinson was remanded in custody to appear at Coleraine Magistrates Court, via videolink, on September 15.
The former Academy student left the DUP to join the UUCP after power share was agreed with Sinn Fein.
He became a member of Ballymena Borough Council in 2006 after winning a by-election and his known for his often vociferous stance on morality.
