Former teacher guilty of indecently assaulting five girls

A former teacher has been found guilty of indecently assaulting five girls at a south Belfast school in the 1970s.

William Lloyd-Lavery, 77, of Richmond Avenue, Lisburn, was told by the judge at Belfast Crown Court that “a sentence of imprisonment is likely”.

Lloyd-Lavery, a former history teacher at Richmond Lodge school, was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault.

They span a period of five years between 1974 and 1979.

Lloyd-Lavery was found not guilty of two counts of indecent assault which were alleged to have taken place between 1974 and 1975.

During the trial, which spanned six days, the court heard from all six complainants in the case.

Their allegations ranged from having their bottom grabbed by Lloyd-Lavery in the corridor to being lifted up and touched on their genitals by the former history teacher.

Two counts of gross indecency were withdrawn from the jury on a point of law during the course of the trial.

The jury was also directed to find Lloyd-Lavery not guilty of one count of indecent assault, on an evidential basis.

Following about four and a half hours of deliberations, over two days, the jury of six men and six women returned unanimous verdicts on six counts of indecent assault.

Lloyd-Lavery, dressed in a dark coat, shook his head as the guilty verdicts were read out.

The judge requested pre-sentence reports and told Lloyd-Lavery he will be placed on the sex offenders register with the length of time determined at the date of sentencing.

The defendant was released on continuing bail and will be sentenced on 6 March.