Sorin Buca

A man from Watford, Hertfordshire, has been imprisoned for more than 11 years following his conviction for serious child sex offences. Sorin Buca, aged 50, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on 17 June 2022, where he received a sentence of 11 years and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to a series of charges related to the sexual abuse of a child.

The offences, which took place between August 2018 and August 2020, included attempted rape of a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13, 10 counts of sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Court proceedings revealed that on one particularly harrowing occasion, Buca entered the victim's bed and attempted to rape her, actions that the judge described as despicable crimes that stripped the innocence from a child for his own sexual gratification.

The abuse came to light when the victim, demonstrating remarkable bravery, confided in someone about Buca's actions, leading to a prompt police report. The investigation was led by the Joint Child Protection Investigation Team, with Detective Constable Liz Chisholm praising the victim's courage in assisting the inquiry. 'The victim in this case has shown great courage in assisting the investigation,' Chisholm stated, emphasising the team's commitment to convicting perpetrators of child sexual abuse.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Buca has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. The court also recommended his deportation to Romania upon completion of his prison term. This case underscores the severe consequences for those who exploit and harm children, as reported by Hertfordshire Constabulary in their official statement on 17 June 2022.