SIMON BUCKFIELD PENZANCE NIGHTCLUB OWNER GUILTY OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN TRURO

In a significant legal development at Truro Crown Court, Simon Buckfield, a man with deep ties to the town of Penzance, has been found guilty on multiple counts related to the sexual abuse of two young girls. The court proceedings, which concluded with a jury verdict earlier today, have brought to light disturbing allegations that span several years and involve serious criminal conduct.

Simon Buckfield, who previously owned the well-known nightclub Club 2K in Penzance, faced a series of charges including three counts of rape, gross indecency with a child, and indecent assault. The trial centered around allegations from two separate victims, both of whom were minors at the time of the incidents. Buckfield, now 49 years old and residing in Trereife, Penzance, vehemently denied all accusations, asserting his innocence throughout the proceedings.

The jury, after deliberating over the course of a day and a half, returned a verdict of guilty on all counts. The court heard that two of the rape charges involved a girl who was just 16 years old when the alleged assaults occurred, with Buckfield in his early 20s at the time. Prosecutor Heather Hope described how Buckfield exploited the girl’s intoxicated state, taking advantage of her vulnerability. She recounted that Buckfield, who was then working in the pub trade and enjoyed popularity among his peers, took the girl to a secluded area at the back of a pub where a group of girls had been drinking.

According to the prosecution, Buckfield and his friends later took the intoxicated girl back to his parents’ house, where he was living. There, he allegedly encouraged her into his bedroom, forcibly removed her clothes, and engaged in sexual activity against her will. The prosecutor detailed that the girl was left distressed and lying on the bed, only for Buckfield to return and repeat the assault. The victim later confided in police that she had engaged in consensual sex with Buckfield in an alleyway years afterward, a claim she made to get back at him, which Buckfield denied.

The second set of charges involved a girl under the age of 14, with Buckfield in his early 30s at the time. Prosecutor Heather Hope explained that the girl was flattered when Buckfield told her she was pretty, and that she wanted a boyfriend but not sex. She was introduced to alcohol, specifically neat Archers, which made her feel more grown-up and special. The prosecution alleged that their interactions progressed from kissing and heavy petting to sexual touching over her clothes, and ultimately to rape when she refused to have sex. It was also claimed that Buckfield later engaged in sexual activity with her again, despite her initial resistance, citing that she still had feelings for him.

During the trial, Buckfield’s defense team, led by QC Simon Laws, challenged the credibility of the allegations. Laws argued that the prosecution’s case was based solely on hearsay and that the passage of time made it difficult to verify the claims, especially since Buckfield’s parents were no longer alive to corroborate his whereabouts during the alleged incidents. Several of Buckfield’s friends testified that they were not present at the times in question and that his parents maintained strict rules about visitors to their home.

Defense counsel also questioned the consistency of the second victim’s story, pointing out discrepancies such as whether Buckfield left a darts match to commit the assault, which witnesses denied. Laws suggested that the victim’s later sexual encounters with Buckfield could be explained by a “childish crush,” and highlighted inconsistencies in her police statements, including issues surrounding contraception use.

Despite the defense’s efforts, the jury found Buckfield guilty of all charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced at Truro Crown Court on Friday, October 13, with the court expected to impose a significant penalty for his actions. The case has drawn considerable attention in Penzance and the surrounding areas, highlighting the importance of justice for victims of sexual abuse and the ongoing efforts to combat such crimes in the community.