JOHN FLOYDD FROM BRORA CAUGHT IN ONLINE PAEDOPHILE STING AND SENT TO SEX OFFENDERS REGISTER

A man from the Highlands, specifically the town of Brora, has been formally placed on the sex offenders register following his involvement in an online sting operation targeting paedophiles. The individual, identified as John Floydd, 67 years old, was caught engaging in inappropriate and sexual communications with a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl. The incident unfolded after Floydd sent explicit messages instructing the decoy to perform a solo sexual act and requesting a topless photograph, actions that led to his immediate arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.

According to reports, the decoy, working as part of an initiative by Saving Children’s Futures, set up a profile on a social media platform to lure potential offenders. The decoy’s profile was designed to appear as that of a 13-year-old girl, and it was through this profile that Floydd initiated contact. The fiscal depute Naomi-Duffy Welsh explained that Floydd was reported to the police after the decoy, acting as a volunteer, received messages from him. The initial contact was made on January 5 of the previous year via the app ChatHour, where Floydd used the username Floydie55.

During the court proceedings, Ms. Welsh detailed that the decoy made it clear from the outset that she was 13 years old, a fact that Floydd later acknowledged. The conversation revealed that Floydd was aware he was speaking to a minor, as he discussed personal details such as his location in Scotland and the school attended by the decoy. The communication then shifted to the messaging app Telegram, where the conversation became increasingly sexualized. Floydd made explicit comments about touching himself and gave instructions to the decoy on how to perform a solo sex act, even stating he was imagining her doing so.

Further escalating the situation, Floydd asked the decoy to send him a topless photograph, made references to her being naked, and made sexually explicit remarks. The decoy operator, after reporting the conversation to the police, obtained Floydd’s home address. It was at this point that authorities, along with a vigilante group, conducted a sting operation at Floydd’s residence on Muirfield Drive in Brora on February 6 of the previous year. The operation was live-streamed over social media, drawing public attention to the case.

Police officers responded swiftly to the scene, executing a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of mobile phones and laptops. During police interviews, Floydd admitted to communicating with the decoy and acknowledged that he was aware of her age. The investigation revealed that some of the messaging occurred while Floydd was at Migdale Hospital, although the details of his medical situation were not elaborated upon in court.

Represented by solicitor Marc Dickson, Floydd did not contest the charges and spoke openly with police about his actions. The case was brought before Inverness Sheriff Court, where Floydd appeared to admit a single charge of communicating indecently with a person he believed to be an older child. The court heard that the incident had serious implications, and Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald ordered Floydd to be placed on the sex offenders register immediately. The length of time Floydd will remain on the register will be determined at his sentencing hearing scheduled for next month.