Sex offender who lives ‘isolated existence’ in Sutherland told to change his behaviour

An elderly Sutherland man was so lonely he got himself a mobile phone while he was in hospital and began to source chat rooms.

But 68-year-old John Floydd went too far by seeking out young girls and was snared by paedophile hunters after he indecently communicated on social media with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

The “girl” calling herself Layla Bennet was actually a member of a group calling themselves “Saving Children’s Future” and she was not using her real name, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.

Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald that first contact with ‘Layla’ was made by Floydd on January 5, 2024 and began innocently.

Floydd was told ‘Layla’ was only 13 years old and he continued to send her text messages but it became illegal when he used a chat room to make sexualised comments.

The pensioner also asked the ‘girl’ for a topless photograph of herself, the prosecutor added.

“An evidential package of the communications was received by Police Scotland from Lancashire Police on January 31, 2024. On February 6, members of another group went to the accused’s address. Police had also been contacted and attended to arrest him.” Ms Duffy-Welsh went on.

Floydd pleaded guilty to communicating indecently with a child.

His lawyer, Marc Dickson, told Sheriff Macdonald, who had deferred sentence for a background report: “He lives a very isolated existence and has no friends. When he was in hospital for an operation, he got himself a mobile phone and began to access chat rooms which led to this offence.”

Floydd was placed under social work supervision for three years and on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the same period. He must also participate in a rehabilitation programme for sex offenders.

The sheriff imposed a further two restrictions on Floydd, who must allow his internet enabled devices to be inspected by his supervising officers and he must not delete his search histories. He agreed to this.

Sheriff Macdonald told him: “This is a serious offence – unpleasant conduct. This is something you must move away from or at some point you will find yourself in jail.”