Former Teacher Jailed for Indecent Assaults in 1970s
A former teacher has been sentenced to two years in prison for indecently assaulting four girls at a school in south Belfast during the 1970s.
William Lloyd-Lavery, aged 77, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, was convicted in January of six counts of indecent assault.
The former history teacher at Richmond Lodge school was described as having committed a "gross breach of trust" through his actions.
At Belfast Crown Court, the judge commended Lloyd-Lavery's victims, stating they were "to be commended for coming forward to expose a paedophile."
'A loss of innocence'
During the sentencing hearing, impact statements from the victims were presented to the court.
One woman recounted how the abuse had "traumatised her" and that the experience felt "like it was yesterday." She described herself at the time as an "innocent and naive 13 year old" and called the abuse "harrowing."
Another victim spoke of a "loss of innocence that would last to the end of her days." She criticized Lloyd-Lavery, who denied the charges prior to conviction.
"Right up until his final breath in the witness stand, he was still abusing us,"
Another victim shared how the abuse had "changed her" and caused feelings of "ashamed." She reported suffering from sleeping difficulties and having to sleep on a mattress in her parents' bedroom following the abuse.
"I have not let Mr Lavery ruin my life by any means but it has certainly given it a dimension I could do without."
A mother of one of the victims addressed the court, emphasizing the expectation of safety when sending a child to school.
"When you send a child to school, you expect them to be safe"
'Looking over their shoulder'
Judge Patrick Lynch KC told Lloyd-Lavery that he had violated the trust placed in him "in the grossest manner."
The judge remarked that offenders of such crimes "were never able to rest easy" because "the crime will catch up with them."
He added that they would be "forever looking over their shoulder in fear that, that day of reckoning will come."
During the trial, six complainants gave evidence. Their allegations included incidents such as Lloyd-Lavery grabbing their bottoms in school corridors and lifting them to touch their genitals.
Two counts of gross indecency were withdrawn from the jury on a point of law during the trial. Additionally, the jury was directed to find Lloyd-Lavery not guilty of one count of indecent assault due to evidential reasons.
