A serving police officer has been found guilty of raping a girl and wiping his phone to avoid detection after the victim gave “powerful” testimony in court.
James Ford, 31, of Hertfordshire constabulary, has been told he faces a lengthy jail term after being found guilty of 10 counts of sexual abuse against the same child after less than a day of deliberation by jurors at Cambridge crown court.
The defendant, formerly of Bishop’s Stortford, was found guilty of 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.
He was also found guilty of carrying out an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice, in that he “deliberately wiped his phone by factory resetting his Samsung mobile phone”.
The offences, which the defendant, who served as an intervention officer, had denied, happened between 2019 and 2021.
DI Susie Hine, who heads the child abuse investigation and safeguarding unit (Caisu) at Cambridgeshire constabulary, paid tribute to the “courage and bravery” of the child. “Through the victim’s powerful testimony, the jury were left in no doubt and now a predatory sex offender is behind bars.
“Cases of this nature are both disturbing and upsetting and I want to reassure the public, there is no place for an offender to hide no matter who they are. In this case, it was a serving police officer who now faces the custodial consequences of his appalling actions.”
Ford was suspended from duties in November last year, police said.
Judge Bryan remanded Ford in custody before sentencing on Friday. Releasing jurors, he told them Ford was “obviously going to have a lengthy custodial sentence – the sentence will be determined by me on Friday”.
Hertfordshire constabulary said that when allegations emerged, the case was independently investigated by specialist officers based within Caisu at Cambridgeshire constabulary. The matter was also referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the force’s professional standards department.
Ford joined the force in December 2019 and was originally based in east Hertfordshire as a uniformed response officer, Hertfordshire constabulary said.
DC Mark Williamson said: “Ford has shown no remorse for his actions and it’s a credit to the victim that the jury saw beyond his lies. I would encourage victims of child abuse to reach out to police or support agencies to get the help and support they need, no matter when the offence occurred.
“Ford faces a significant prison sentence for his crimes which I hope gives a sense of justice to the victim and their family.”
Genna Telfer, Hertfordshire assistant chief constable, said: “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.
“I am disgusted by his actions and he will face a fast-track hearing for dismissal.”
