WAYNE ROGERS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN HERTFORDSHIRE AND BISHOP'S STORTFORD
A man known as Wayne Rogers, aged 48, has been sentenced to a decade in prison following his conviction for sexually abusing a 20-year-old man in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire.The incident, which took place in September 2022, involved Rogers disguising himself as a woman, complete with a wig and fake breasts, to lure and assault his victim.
According to court records, Rogers approached the intoxicated young man in the early hours of a Sunday morning.
The victim, who had been out drinking in the town center, was described as being 'absolutely hammered' after a long evening that included visits to JD Wetherspoon’s Port Jackson pub and Bacchus nightclub.
After helping his female friend into a car, the victim was led away by Rogers, who was dressed as a woman, and subsequently driven a short distance before the assault occurred.
Prosecutor Mark Trafford KC detailed that Rogers engaged in sexual contact with the victim in a secluded location, taking advantage of his intoxicated state.
The victim, who later reported the incident, remembered being assaulted in the car park and another nearby location, with the assault being completely non-consensual and degrading.
The young man woke up on a patch of grass at around 5 a.m., with no memory of the events, but later confided in his father about the assault during a drive into town the following day.
He was subsequently taken to a sexual assault referral center, where he described the attacker as having a deep, distinctive voice.
In his personal statement, the victim expressed feelings of sadness and numbness, stating, 'When I am not distracted and am alone with my thoughts, I feel sad or numb.' The police arrested Rogers on November 4, 2022, at his residence in Plaw Hatch Close, Bishop’s Stortford.
During the search, officers discovered two blonde wigs and a pair of fake breasts under his bed, along with a mobile phone that contained disturbing images and internet search history.
The phone revealed searches such as 'Drunk friend...', 'F*** drunk sleeping friend,' and similar phrases indicating a pattern of predatory behavior towards intoxicated men.
Further investigation uncovered an image of the victim sitting motionless, wearing only white socks, while Rogers was fondling him.
Rogers’ defense argued that he was a mobile hairdresser and claimed that his self-description as 'like a woman trapped in a man’s body' was misunderstood.
However, Judge Francis Sheridan emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack, stating, 'This young man was a complete and utter innocent and a complete stranger.
He was an easy prey for you.
There was a degree of planning.
You went out dressed with your fake breasts and wig.' As part of his sentence, Rogers is required to register as a sex offender for life and must adhere to a sexual harm prevention order.
The court’s verdict underscores the seriousness of his actions and the vulnerability of his victims, especially in cases involving deception and exploitation of intoxicated individuals in Hertfordshire and Bishop’s Stortford.
