DANIEL FORD, CONVICTED OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN ST HELENS
Two men have been brought to justice years after young girls were subjected to “calculated and devious” sexual abuse at their hands.Daniel Ford, aged 36, of Recreation Street in St Helens, has three previous convictions for five dissimilar offences.
Although he maintains his innocence, he was convicted of several counts of sexual activity with a child by a jury.
Ford had a sexual relationship with Girl A when she was only 11 years old, and later when she was 14, he was said to have been “much older”, enabling him to ply her with alcohol as he abused her.
The court heard that Ford and Hughes, of Poulton-le-Fylde, groomed their victims after making a “deliberate choice of younger and more vulnerable” girls.
Ford was described as someone who, despite denying guilt, has built a responsible life, including being in a long-term relationship with children, and working in a casino.
He was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison for his crimes.
During the sentencing, Judge Ian Harris stated that grooming was a factor in Ford’s case, and highlighted that he still denies the offences, despite being convicted.