'a timely warning' over web safety

The social networking internet site Facebook has said that the conviction of Michael Williams serves as a painful reminder that everyone must use extreme caution when talking to or meeting people they only know via the internet.

A spokesman for the firm, which recently launched a 5m campaign to improve user safety, said: “Those who use the internet to groom young people are tenacious in their efforts and have shown that they will use every online and offline opportunity to make contact. Sadly, many of those targeted online do not even realise they are being groomed until it is too late.”

Det Insp Simon Snell, who led the Williams investigation, said: “Parents need to make sure their children are not using their computers in their bedroom as they have got no idea who they are speaking to.”