Former Unity Executive Sentenced to 22 Years for Sexual Offences

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Former Unity senior client partner Rod Stafford has been sentenced to 22 years in prison following convictions on 33 sexual offences, including rape and assault involving a child.

The sentencing took place at Oxford Crown Court on July 1, 2025.

Stafford, also known by the names Roderick Bryce-Hagin and Roderick Bryce-Stafford, was handed a five-year extended license, placed on the UK’s sexual offenders register for life, and will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Stafford’s connections with Unity have become a focal point of the situation. According to Game Developer, he represented Unity as recently as 2024, attending events such as Develop:Brighton and Reboot Develop, where he gave talks on multiplayer game infrastructure. During that time, he was listed as part of Unity’s Cloud & Game Services team. Notably, his speaker details have since been removed from the websites of DICE Summit and Develop.

The company, however, has stated that Stafford is no longer with Unity. In a brief statement to Game Developer, a spokesperson said, “The individual in question is no longer at Unity and his criminal case has no connection to Unity or its operations.” While the statement aims to distance the company from Stafford, the timeline remains unclear. Documentation reviewed by Game Developer suggests Stafford was still employed at Unity as of April 2025, when his trial was held.

Digging deeper into his past, Oxford Mail previously reported in 2004 that Stafford, then a captain in the Royal Scots, was sentenced to over three months in military prison for sexually abusing fellow soldiers at Ballykelly Army base. The misconduct, which included inappropriate advances toward both male and female colleagues, eventually led to his dismissal from the British Army. His LinkedIn profile confirms that he left the army in 2004 and later transitioned into roles within the tech and gaming sectors.

This resurfacing of a prior conviction raises significant concerns over how Stafford was able to secure high-profile roles in the industry, particularly one involving representation at global events. While Unity has made a public statement, many are waiting for the company to provide further transparency regarding the vetting and oversight processes that allowed Stafford to remain involved in industry-facing activities for so long.