Paedophile Hertfordshire Police officer jailed for crimes including child rape

A paedophile police officer from Hertfordshire Constabulary has been jailed after being convicted of multiple child abuse offences and perverting the course of justic.

James Ford, 31, who had already been suspended from the force, had pleaded not guilty to 11 counts, which included the rape of a child under 13 and perverting the cause of justice by deliberately wiping his mobile phone.

Ford, who had been suspended since November last year, originally joined the force in December 2019.

The court heard how the charges relate to one victim who cannot be identified and who has been given full support by trained officers.

The abuse continued for 21 months, and only came to light when the girl told her dad.

Ford has been jailed for a total of 18 years and three months and must serve a minimum of two thirds of his sentence behind bars. He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The judge also put a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in place, along with a restraining order to protect the victim.

An investigation into the crimes had been held by specialist officers based with the Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (CAISU) at Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

The matter was also referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the force’s Professional Standards Department. Now the case has been heard, the conduct proceedings will now be expedited.

Detective Constable Mark Williamson, who is based within CAISU and is the officer in the case said: “Ford is a despicable character who showed no remorse for his actions and invented ridiculous stories to defend his position.

“It is a credit to the victim that the jury saw beyond his lies. I hope the sentence today gives a sense of justice to the victim and their family.”

Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer added: “James Ford has committed the most appalling crime and his sentence today reflects the gravity of them. His behaviour has been cowardly and disgusting and I am glad he will be spending many years in prison where he poses no further risk.”

Anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support. The centre can arrange face-to-face support, sexual health referrals, and provide forensic medical examinations for those who want them.

To contact Herts SARC, call the 24/7 helpline on 0808 178 4448, email [email protected] or visit www.hertssarc.org.

This service is available to everyone – no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.