GIOACCHINO BUGLIONE FROM ST ALBANS SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN LIVERPOOL ROAD

In a case that has shocked the local community of St Albans, Gioacchino Buglione, a 69-year-old man known for his standing within the community, was formally sentenced to four years in prison at St Albans Crown Court on a recent Wednesday. The court proceedings revealed that Buglione had pleaded guilty to a total of 20 charges, which included counts of indecent assault and indecency with children, spanning a period of over a decade.

Buglione, who resides on Liverpool Road and previously worked as a hospital cook, appeared in court with a stoic demeanor as Judge Colin Colston QC delivered the sentence. The judge described Buglione’s crimes as “grievous offences” and explicitly stated that he should “not be trusted with children again,” emphasizing the severity of his actions and the danger he posed to the community.

During the hearing, the prosecution, represented by Denis Barry, detailed how Buglione had sexually assaulted five young girls over a 15-year period, from 1982 to 1997. The court was also informed of Buglione’s attempts to manipulate the legal process; initially, he pleaded guilty to all 20 charges in November of the previous year, only to later attempt to change his plea to not guilty a few weeks afterward. This attempt to alter his plea was ultimately rejected by Judge Colston after a hearing held the previous week.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Colston highlighted the betrayal of trust involved in Buglione’s crimes. He remarked, “You have been regarded as a pillar of the Italian community in this city. What was unknown to those who respected you, but not unknown to the five victims in this case, was the important fact that over a period of 15 years you were committing sexual offences against little girls, some of them as young as five years old at the time.”

The judge went on to describe the profound and lasting impact these offences had on the victims, now young women. He explained that such crimes often leave victims with deep psychological scars, including difficulty in speaking out or trusting authorities, and feelings of self-disgust, despite the fact that the victims bore no blame. “The blame resides squarely on your shoulders,” he emphasized.

Regarding the sentencing, Judge Colston ordered that Buglione serve 15 months for each of seven counts of indecency with children. For the eight counts of indecent assault committed before the law changed in 1985, he was sentenced to three years each, and for the five counts committed after that date, he received four years each. All sentences are to run concurrently, meaning the total time served will be four years.

Additionally, Buglione’s name will be added to the sex offenders register, and he will be required to keep police informed of his whereabouts following his release from prison. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such offences are treated and the ongoing risk posed by offenders like Buglione.

Following the sentencing, Hertfordshire’s child protection and investigation unit’s Detective Inspector Keith Tilley commented on the case, stating, “The offender will always remain a danger within the community. There is no such thing as a cured paedophile. His guilty plea was purely damage limitation. There was no sign of remorse for his victims, and if that continues, he will serve his full sentence.”

Detective Constable Alexandra Lucy, who led the investigation, added that the victims were not interested in revenge but wanted to ensure that Buglione would not harm any other children. She urged anyone who had experienced abuse to come forward and report it in confidence, reaffirming Hertfordshire Constabulary’s commitment to taking such offences very seriously.