Sean Coughlan: Paedophile ex-Walsall Council leader admits child sex offences

The 65-year-old admitted one count relating to sexual communication and one count relating to attempted sexual activity with a child under 16 between August and December 2021 when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday.

Coughlan spoke to change his plea to guilty from not guilty.

There was no application for bail.

A trial had been due to be held on July 18. However now the veteran politician has pleaded guilty he will be sentenced in four weeks.

Coughlan, of Martin Drive, Short Heath, Willenhall, was remanded in custody until then.

Coughlan was the elected representative for the Willenhall South ward but resigned in December following his arrest after being caught in an internet sting.

Self-styled paedophile hunters confronted Coughlan and posted a 30-minute video of them questioning the Labour politician on social media. He was then arrested and charged by West Midlands Police and spent Christmas behind bars after being kept in custody.

A spokesman for Walsall Council said at the time: “The council received Councillor Sean Coughlan’s written notice of resignation from his office as a councillor. His resignation was formally and immediately accepted. He is no longer a Walsall MBC councillor.”

He was first elected in 1995 and has successfully defended the seat on a number of occasions, the latest being in May this year.

During his career he rose to become deputy leader and then leader of both his party and Walsall Council, which he was in charge of between 2016 and 2018.

He stepped down as leader of the Walsall Labour Group in 2019.

It is understood that Councillor Coughlan was also suspended from the Labour Party following his arrest.