Former teacher convicted of sexually abusing girls at Belfast school jailed

A former teacher convicted by a jury of sexually abusing pupils at an all-girls grammar in Belfast was handed a two-year jail sentence today (Tuesday).

The sentence was imposed upon William Lloyd-Lavery at Belfast Crown Court by Judge Patrick Lynch KC.

The 77-year old, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, will also spend the next ten years on the Sex Offenders Register.

As he sent Lloyd-Lavery to jail, Judge Lunch said the four victims – who were sexually abused when they were aged 13 and 14 – were “to be commended for coming forward to expose a paedophile.”

Lloyd-Lavery stood trial earlier this year and was found guilty by a jury of six counts of indecent assault against four females.

All the charges relate to a period spanning from August 31, 1975 and July 1, 1979 when Lloyd-Lavery worked as a history teacher at Richmond Lodge College on Belfast’s Malone Road.

The school merged with Victoria College in 1987.

Lloyd-Lavery denied all the charges against him and during the two-week trial, the jury of six men and six women heard evidence from his victims.

One woman who is now in her 60s said she felt she was “hunted like prey through my own school by a teacher for his own sexual gratification.”

The jury heard that she was lifted up and sexually abused by Lloyd-Lavery in a French stationery cupboard after telling her he needed help looking for a history book.

The woman recalled how, when her feet were off the ground, Lloyd-Lavery held her with his left hand whilst he used his right hand to touch her genitals which left her “frozen in horror.”

Her 94-year old mother also gave evidence at the trial and recalled how her “heart sank” when her then 13-year old daughter told her what had happened.

She added that her daughter told her how frightened she was and how she felt she couldn’t get away.

The woman said that as a result, both her and her now-deceased husband went to the school the following morning and that she felt the headmistress was “keen that nothing should be done.”

Another victim of Lloyd-Lavery’s gave evidence and recalled how she was taken by him to a storeroom where he asked her about the Bubonic Plague then touched her armpit, touched her breast then rubbed her groin over her school skirt.

The now-convicted sex offender also gave evidence at the trial and rejected the allegations of all the complainants and brandished their claims as “lies” and “nonsense.”

The pensioner was questioned first by his barrister and when asked what his response was to the various allegations made, Lloyd-Lavery said: “There is no truth in any of them. They are all completely wrong, completely untrue.”

Lloyd-Lavery was also cross-examined by a Crown barrister who suggested to him that he used his “privileged position to take advantage of young girls” which he said was “totally untrue.”

Despite his denials and claims that he was the victim of a vendetta and that the complainants colluded against him via Facebook, the jury deliberated for around four-and-a-half before returning their unanimously guilty verdicts on six charges of indecent assault against four females.

The jury also returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on a further two charges of indecent assault whilst Judge Lynch directed them to find Lloyd-Lavery not guilty of one count of indecent assault on an evidential basis.

Earlier in the trial, two counts of gross indecency with or towards a child were withdrawn from the jury on a point of law.

Following his conviction, Lloyd-Lavery spoke to a Probation Officer and continued his claims of innocence.

After the two-year sentence was imposed today, Lloyd-Lavery was led from the dock by prison staff who took him into custody.

From 1976-1978, Lloyd-Lavery sexually assaulted four girls at Richmond Lodge School in Belfast, ranging from nine to 13 years of age.Now adults, the victims in this case have all come forward seeking justice.On November 16, 2022, he attended a police station voluntarily and was interviewed for all offences. He denied all.He was later reported to the Public Prosecution Service and then unanimously found guilty on January 23, 2026.Following sentencing today (Tuesday) of Lloyd-Lavery, Detective Inspector Kelly Foley said: “This man was an opportunist, using his position of power and trust within the school environment to prey on young girls.“He thought for a long time he had got away with this. Today has proven that the passage of time has no bearing on a criminal justice outcome.“I want to thank the bravery of the victims in coming forward. We have seen an increase in reports of non-recent child abuse over the last five years, with an average of 76 new referrals of this type each month across the province.“Sentencings like today, I hope, will provide those who have suffered with the confidence to break the years of silence they have endured.“Let this serve as another warning to those perpetrating child sexual abuse in our communities, we are working every day to break down reporting barriers and encourage victims to come forward.“Our specialist officers are working day and night to relentlessly pursue offenders and bring them to justice.”In an effort to encourage other victims of non-recent crimes to come forward, three of the victims in this case have bravely spoken out.Sarah, now 63 years of age, said: “It happened 50 years ago, but it may as well have been yesterday. That is the reality of non-recent child abuse, it stays with you. It shapes you and, if you let it, the silence will take its toll. I have not let him ruin my life but he has certainly given it a dimension I could do without.“A memory that resurfaces now and again to remind me that my bubble of innocence was burst at only 13 years of age.“Speaking out is hard, but staying silent is harder. Today we got justice against a man who thought he had got away with it.”Emma, now 61 years of age, said: “Each day, I hid myself within groups of girls when I moved between lessons, for fear of meeting him in the very long corridors and feeling his eyes on me, reliving what he had done.“It was like the constant, painful, picking at a scab that never heals and a profound sense of injustice has followed me all my life.“From the moment that I lifted the phone to the police, I was listened to and believed. Special measures are put in place for victims of abuse right from the start, so I felt safe and finally able to unload the toxic burden that I had been carrying for so long.”Lucy, now 61 years of age, said: “The assault in the autumn term of 1979 changed me. I felt so ashamed and was unable to speak to anyone. I blocked it out and tried to forget about it.“However, I stopped sleeping and spent most nights for some months on a mattress on my parents’ bedroom floor.“I was referred to a child psychologist. I am glad that I have finally stood up for the truth, I have no regrets.“I am a strong woman and will survive – I hope the outcome of the case will encourage other victims of historical sexual abuse to come forward.”Parents/guardians and wider local communities should report any activity, online or physical towards a child that they find concerning.Similarly, if you have been the victim of recent or non-recent child abuse, please report to the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

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