ANDREW FORD FROM STOCKTON SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN SHOCKING CASE

A man aged 47, hailing from Stockton, has been found guilty of engaging in heinous online child sexual abuse activities. The conviction follows a detailed investigation into his predatory behavior on the internet, which culminated in his arrest and subsequent sentencing.

Andrew Ford was lured into a trap set by law enforcement officers who were actively working to combat online child exploitation. Undercover officers created a simulated online environment, with one officer adopting the persona of 'Ava,' a young girl. Ford was drawn into a chatroom designated for teenagers aged 13 to 19, where he believed he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl. In reality, he was speaking with an undercover officer.

During the course of the conversation, Ford expressed approval of a photograph of the girl sitting on a sofa, describing it as 'fine,' and then proceeded to request a photograph of her. As the chat progressed, Ford exchanged explicit images with the supposed minor, sending images of himself engaged in sexual acts and making clear his desire to perform sexual acts with a child. Despite the girl claiming to be at school and in Year 8, Ford continued to pursue the conversation with disturbing intent.

Law enforcement officials arrested Ford at his partner’s residence on February 12. He subsequently pleaded guilty to multiple serious charges, including sending explicit images to cause distress, attempting to incite a child into sexual activity, and engaging in sexual communication with a minor. Ford’s criminal history includes a prior conviction for child abuse, and he had previously been subject to a court order and participation in a sex offender treatment program.

The court heard that Ford’s sexual interests in children have persisted for over two decades, marking him as a high-risk individual in terms of child safety. The judge sentenced him to 45 months in prison, imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and mandated lifetime sex offender notification requirements. The judge emphasized the severity of Ford’s actions and his ongoing risk to children, underscoring the importance of strict measures to prevent further harm.