DYLAN LLOYD AND LUKE FINN FROM BALA AND PORTHMADOG SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN NORTH WALES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Bala and Porthmadog, two men have been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old boy. The incident, which came to light in June 2014, revealed a pattern of grooming, exploitation, and illegal activity carried out by Dylan Lloyd, aged 41, of Cwm Tylo farm, Parc, Bala, and Luke Finn, aged 26, of High Street, Porthmadog.

According to court proceedings, Lloyd and Finn engaged in a series of sexual acts with the young teenager, at times broadcasting their activities over the internet via webcam. Lloyd, who was known to have HIV, was accused of giving the boy alcohol, cannabis, poppers, and Viagra, and exposing him to homosexual pornography. The court heard that Lloyd dressed the boy in flamboyant clothing and make-up, further manipulating him into compliance. The grooming process began after Lloyd contacted the teenager through Facebook, exploiting his vulnerability and trust.

The prosecutor, Jonathan Austin, described how Lloyd had taken the boy to a party at Cwm Tylo farm, where he was under the influence of various substances and subjected to sexual acts. The teenager was reportedly frightened and upset, doing as Lloyd wished out of fear. On one occasion, another homosexual couple was invited to the farm, and the boy was dressed up in flamboyant attire and make-up for their entertainment. When the couple realized the boy’s young age, they left the scene.

Finn’s involvement became apparent when he started working for Lloyd. It was revealed that Finn, who had recently been diagnosed as HIV positive, sought to escape his Porthmadog home environment. The court learned that Lloyd and Finn engaged in sexual activity together in front of the boy, before involving him directly. All of these acts were broadcast over the internet, with the defendants falsely assuring the teenager that oral sex could not transmit HIV. Fortunately, the boy did not contract the virus.

Both Lloyd and Finn were aware of the boy’s age, as he was still attending school at the time. Their criminal activities culminated when the boy attacked Lloyd with a knife while he was sleeping, inflicting a neck wound that required 14 stitches. This attack led to their arrest. During the trial, defense lawyers argued that the teenager was a willing participant and possessed sexual knowledge beyond his years. Anna Pope, representing Finn, highlighted his troubled background, including the loss of his mother and a father frequently in prison, and his recent HIV diagnosis, which she described as a life-changing shock.

Judge Niclas Parry sentenced Lloyd to four years in prison and Finn to two. Addressing Lloyd, the judge stated, “You manufactured a situation where you would be able to abuse your victim. There was an element of depravity in your behaviour.” Regarding Finn, the judge emphasized the gravity of his HIV-positive status and the false assurances given to the victim about HIV transmission.

As part of his sentence, Lloyd was also subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his contact with children under 16, prohibiting him from sleeping under the same roof as a child without parental consent, and mandating the use of computer software to record web activity. Detective Constable Martyn Parmley of North Wales Police’s Amethyst Team praised the victim’s bravery and emphasized the importance of public protection agencies in supporting victims of sexual abuse. The Amethyst Team offers specialized services and encourages victims to come forward, assuring them of confidentiality and support through resources like the Amethyst SARC Helpline at 0808 156 3658.

Earlier in April 2014, both men admitted to sexual offences against the same boy. Lloyd, who was 40 at the time, pleaded guilty to six charges involving sexual activity with the teenager, including a mutual sex act and incitement to engage in another sexual act. Finn, aged 26, also admitted two counts of sexual activity with the boy. The investigation was initiated after Lloyd reported that the boy had assaulted him, but during the investigation, the sexual offences surfaced. Both men were remanded in custody pending sentencing, with the court acknowledging their guilty pleas and the need for appropriate sentencing to reflect the severity of their crimes.