Malaria scare nurse bailed on sex attack charges

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A nurse who sparked an international search because it was feared he had malaria appeared in court today charged with sexual and common assault.

Matthew Lloyd, 35, from Southampton, made a brief appearance at Southampton Magistrates' Court and spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and that he understood the charges relating to a 20-year-old woman.

No pleas were entered and Lloyd, who is a voluntary patient at a psychiatric unit, the court heard, was granted bail.

Magistrates adjourned the case until March 3 when he will appear at Southampton Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing.

Lloyd was undergoing a clinical trial to find a cure for the disease in Oxford when he failed to make an appointment in October last year.

Police and his family appealed for help to find him. He was traced to Holland on October 18 and had not contracted the disease.

Lloyd was later charged with the offences in relation to an alleged attack on August 21 last year in Southampton as the woman walked home from work.