James Ford, a 31-year-old serving police officer with Hertfordshire Police, has been found guilty of committing serious sexual offences against a child under the age of 13. The offences, which occurred between 2019 and 2021, involved a sustained campaign of abuse against the same young victim. Ford, who was employed as an intervention officer and previously based in Bishop’s Stortford, denied all charges but was convicted after a jury deliberated for less than a day at Cambridge Crown Court.
The court heard that Ford was guilty on 10 counts of sexual abuse, including four counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, he was found guilty of perverting the course of public justice by deliberately factory resetting his Samsung mobile phone to wipe evidence. This act was intended to obstruct the investigation into his crimes. Ford joined Hertfordshire Police in December 2019 as a uniformed response officer in East Hertfordshire before his suspension from duties in November 2022, following the emergence of allegations.
The case was independently investigated by specialist officers from the Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (CAISU) at Cambridgeshire Police. It was also referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and Hertfordshire Police’s Professional Standards Department. Mr Justice Simon Bryan, presiding over the trial, remanded Ford in custody ahead of his sentencing on Friday, stating that he was 'obviously going to have a lengthy custodial sentence'. The judge emphasised that the sentence would be determined by him on that date.
Detective Inspector Susie Hine, head of CAISU at Cambridgeshire Police, commended the victim’s courage, saying: 'Through the victim’s powerful testimony, the jury were left in no doubt and now a predatory sex offender is behind bars.' She added that cases of this nature are disturbing and upsetting, reassuring the public that 'there is no place for an offender to hide no matter who they are'. Detective Constable Mark Williamson, the investigating officer, noted Ford’s lack of remorse: 'Ford has shown no remorse for his actions and it’s a credit to the victim that the jury saw beyond his lies.' He encouraged other victims of child abuse to seek help from police or support agencies.
Hertfordshire Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer expressed disgust at Ford’s actions, stating: 'James Ford took advantage of a vulnerable victim in the most appalling way and his behaviour will have devastated those involved. Thankfully, due to the bravery of the victim and the due diligence of the officers investigating, he will now serve time in prison which is where he belongs.' She confirmed that Ford would face a fast-track hearing for dismissal from the force. An NSPCC spokesperson highlighted the betrayal of trust, remarking: 'As a police officer, Ford would have been all too aware of the devastation child sexual abuse can cause its victims. But he disregarded this and his duty to protect people from harm as he embarked on a campaign to sexually abuse this young girl.'
The conviction underscores the rigorous processes in place to hold police officers accountable, with the investigation ensuring that Ford’s position of authority did not shield him from justice. Sentencing details will follow the court hearing, but the judge’s remarks indicate a substantial prison term ahead for Ford.