James Ford

Hertfordshire Police officer James Ford raped and sexually abused a girl under 13 while holding a job entrusted with protecting the public.

Ford, 31 when sentenced, was jailed for 18 years and three months at Cambridge Crown Court in October 2022 after being convicted of four rapes, four sexual assaults and two offences of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. His offending took place between 2019 and 2021.

Ford, formerly of Bishop’s Stortford, denied the offences and wiped his mobile phone to conceal evidence, leading to a further conviction for perverting the course of justice.

Branding Ford a “disgrace to your office”, the judge said a serving police officer should have protected society from sexual abusers, yet Ford had committed those crimes himself.