ROY BLAND FROM REDHILL AND SOUTH EARLSWOOD FACES JAIL FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Redhill and South Earlswood, Roy Bland, a 58-year-old man, was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The crimes, which spanned over a three-year period, involved indecent assault and sexual assault against a girl who was between the ages of 9 and 12 at the time of the incidents.

Roy Bland, who resides on Hampton Road in South Earlswood, was brought before Kingston Crown Court on April 28 to face the charges. The court heard that Bland had engaged in inappropriate and abusive behavior towards the girl, who is now 16 years old. The allegations detailed that Bland had lured the girl to his home by offering bribes, only to subject her to sexual abuse during these visits. The victim recounted her experiences in court, stating, “He would bribe me to go to his home and then he would abuse me.”

The offenses reportedly took place during a period when Bland’s partner was working night shifts at a Waitrose supermarket in Crawley, which allowed Bland to carry out these acts in privacy. The girl’s testimony was harrowing, and her account painted a disturbing picture of manipulation and exploitation by Bland.

In addition to the criminal proceedings, Bland, who is also known as a darts champion, faced allegations that he had used his position as captain of the darts team at the Garibaldi pub on Mill Street in Redhill to facilitate his abusive behavior. Despite the serious nature of the charges, Bland denied all allegations, claiming that he had been helping the girl, whom he described as an “attention seeker,” asserting that her family had not looked after her properly.

The court proceedings revealed that Bland’s actions had caused significant harm to the victim, and the judge sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment. Prior to sentencing, Bland was remanded on bail to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence reports. The case has garnered considerable attention in the local area, highlighting the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the ongoing efforts to bring offenders to justice in the communities of Redhill and South Earlswood.