ANTROY FORD FROM BATTERSEA SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN ILFORD'S VALENTINES PARK
| Red Rose Database
Battersea Rapist
In a disturbing case that unfolded in the heart of Ilford, a young girl was subjected to a brutal sexual assault in broad daylight within the confines of Valentines Park. The perpetrator, Antroy Ford, a 22-year-old man from Battersea, was convicted of the heinous crime and subsequently sentenced to five years in prison.
According to court proceedings, Ford was introduced to the 16-year-old victim through a mutual acquaintance. He claimed he was seeking to meet an “innocent church-going girl,” which he used as a pretext to establish contact. Over a period of time, Ford engaged in persistent texting and emailing with the naive teenager, gradually building a rapport that culminated in an invitation to meet in Romford. The plan was to attend a music festival in Victoria Park, London, along with some of Ford’s friends, on September 10, 2011.
On the day of the incident, the victim and Ford traveled together on a bus heading towards Valentines Park, located on Cranbrook Road in Ilford. During the journey, Ford repeatedly attempted to kiss her, despite her apparent discomfort. The situation escalated when Ford led her to a secluded area within the park, away from the public eye. It was there that he forced her into sexual acts against her will. The judge, Recorder Richard Merz, described Ford’s behavior as manipulative and predatory, stating, “You persisted in trying to get what you wanted out of that day, which was a sexual encounter with her.”
He further explained that Ford’s actions were calculated, noting, “You stopped at one spot and you kissed her. She wasn’t responding and you asked her if she had kissed anyone before. She said she had not, and you laughed at her and told her to relax. It is clear to me you were engineering the situation so you could get her to a place where no one could see what was happening.”
Despite her protests, Ford forced her to perform sexual acts and then assaulted her physically. The court heard that the trauma from the assault was so severe that the victim attempted to take her own life upon returning home, overdosing on paracetamol. The judge observed the profound impact on her mental health, noting that she had transitioned from a happy, sociable girl who was diligent in her studies and aspired to attend university, to someone now withdrawn and struggling to focus.
Ford, who was present in the dock and showed no visible emotion, was found guilty of rape after a trial held the previous month. His conviction underscores the severity of his actions and the lasting damage inflicted upon the young victim.
According to court proceedings, Ford was introduced to the 16-year-old victim through a mutual acquaintance. He claimed he was seeking to meet an “innocent church-going girl,” which he used as a pretext to establish contact. Over a period of time, Ford engaged in persistent texting and emailing with the naive teenager, gradually building a rapport that culminated in an invitation to meet in Romford. The plan was to attend a music festival in Victoria Park, London, along with some of Ford’s friends, on September 10, 2011.
On the day of the incident, the victim and Ford traveled together on a bus heading towards Valentines Park, located on Cranbrook Road in Ilford. During the journey, Ford repeatedly attempted to kiss her, despite her apparent discomfort. The situation escalated when Ford led her to a secluded area within the park, away from the public eye. It was there that he forced her into sexual acts against her will. The judge, Recorder Richard Merz, described Ford’s behavior as manipulative and predatory, stating, “You persisted in trying to get what you wanted out of that day, which was a sexual encounter with her.”
He further explained that Ford’s actions were calculated, noting, “You stopped at one spot and you kissed her. She wasn’t responding and you asked her if she had kissed anyone before. She said she had not, and you laughed at her and told her to relax. It is clear to me you were engineering the situation so you could get her to a place where no one could see what was happening.”
Despite her protests, Ford forced her to perform sexual acts and then assaulted her physically. The court heard that the trauma from the assault was so severe that the victim attempted to take her own life upon returning home, overdosing on paracetamol. The judge observed the profound impact on her mental health, noting that she had transitioned from a happy, sociable girl who was diligent in her studies and aspired to attend university, to someone now withdrawn and struggling to focus.
Ford, who was present in the dock and showed no visible emotion, was found guilty of rape after a trial held the previous month. His conviction underscores the severity of his actions and the lasting damage inflicted upon the young victim.