ROGER BLUFF FROM CROXLEY GREEN SENTENCED TO OVER NINE YEARS FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE 1990S

In a case that has spanned decades before finally reaching justice, Roger Bluff, a 75-year-old resident of Croxley Green, has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison for the sexual abuse of a young girl during the early 1990s. The conviction was handed down at St Albans Crown Court last month, following a jury trial that found Bluff guilty of one count of rape and seven counts of indecent assault.

These heinous offences occurred between 1992 and 1994, a period during which the victim was only between 9 and 10 years old. The victim, who endured these traumatic experiences in her childhood, reported the abuse to Hertfordshire police in 2018, more than two decades after the incidents took place. Her courage in coming forward has been instrumental in bringing her abuser to justice.

During the sentencing, Judge Stephen Warner addressed Bluff, who resides on Owens Way in Croxley Green, emphasizing the severity and systematic nature of the abuse. The judge stated, “This was systematic abuse over a two-year period of a young vulnerable victim for your own gratification.” He also acknowledged the profound and lasting impact the abuse has had on the victim’s life, noting that her personal statement detailed the enduring effects of the trauma. The judge highlighted the cruelty of forcing the victim to relive her ordeal in court, stating, “You obliged her to give evidence and relive her experience at your hands.”

Bluff’s defense attorney, Oliver Renton, argued that his client had led a law-abiding life and had contributed positively to the community through charitable and social work. He also pointed out Bluff’s poor health, suggesting that a prison sentence would be particularly burdensome for him. Despite these arguments, the court imposed a sentence that requires Bluff to serve at least two-thirds of his term before being eligible for parole. Additionally, he is mandated to register as a sex offender indefinitely, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.