May 2015 Former Great Yarmouth hotel manager jailed for groping females The former manager of a Great Yarmouth hotel was jailed for 42 months for groping four females as young as 15-years-old after making inappropriate sexual comments to them. Lloyd Thornton, 56, made inappropriate sexual comments to the females and pinched one woman on the bottom and lifted up her skirt, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday. John Morgans, prosecuting, said Thornton was described as acting in a “pervy and creepy” manner by the women. Mr Morgans said that while on bail for the sex assaults on three females, he groped another young woman while he was alone with her and told her: “That will be another allegation.” Mr Morgans said all the young women had been very distressed by Thornton’s behaviour and it had affected their confidence. Thornton, of Botolph’s Lane, Bury St Edmunds, who admitted sex assaults on four females, was jailed for 42 months and placed on the sex offenders’ register. He will also be made subject to a sexual offences prevention order. Jonathan Goodman, for Thornton, said he did not want to minimise his actions, but said Thornton came from a different era. He said times had moved on, but Thornton did not realise this. “It has taken a long time for Thornton to appreciate that it is simply unacceptable in today’s society to touch others in this way. He is not a serial groper but a man who misunderstood boundaries.” He said Thornton was facing ruin and bankruptcy. “He ruined his reputation and he is financially ruined as well.” Jailing him, Judge Peter Jacobs told him he had taken advantage of vulnerable females.