ANDREW LLOYD LIBRARY GUARD SENTENCED IN DURHAM FOR PERSISTENT EXPLICIT TEXTS TO 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In July 2014, a Durham County Council library security guard was sentenced to prison after sending sexually explicit messages and photographs to a 12-year-old girl.Andrew Lloyd, age 38, sent a total of 111 texts over a period of three months, some encouraging her to engage in sexual activity and one featuring a nude photo of his penis, Durham Crown Court was told.
The girl, who was being bullied at school, developed feelings for Lloyd and believed they were involved in an adult relationship, but it was revealed that Lloyd was doing it solely for his own amusement and thrill, court officials explained.
Lloyd, who worked as a security guard at Durham’s Clayport Library, met the girl when she was 11 because she visited the library regularly to do her homework, according to prosecutor Paul Newcombe.
He stated that Lloyd would have known she was of school age because she wore her school uniform.
The court heard that Lloyd befriended her, gave her his mobile number, and told her she could text him at any time.
The sexually explicit messages were exchanged in late December 2012 and early January 2013.
In messages, Lloyd referred to the girl as “hun” and “sweetheart” and claimed they would be together soon.
He also expressed concern that her mother might see her phone.
However, it was actually the girl’s mother who discovered the misconduct during a search of her daughter’s Blackberry.
In police interviews, Lloyd, who resides on Katherine Street in Darlington, fully admitted to the offences.
He explained that he had been drinking at the time, recognized that his actions were wrong, and expressed remorse.
The court was told that the girl was deeply affected, feeling frightened and devastated by how she had been manipulated and taken advantage of.
Lloyd faced three charges of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
In his mitigation, Tom Moran emphasized that no sexual activity actually occurred and that Lloyd had no real intention of such; instead, his actions were described as solely for “titillation.” Judge Deborah Sherwin stated that Lloyd’s position as a security guard placed him in a position of trust and noted that parents expect those working in libraries to act in their children's best interests.
Lloyd was sentenced to 32 months in prison, placed under a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and will be registered as a sex offender for life.
