NICHOLAS FORD FROM WHITMINSTER SENTENCED AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND ONLINE GROOMING IN BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In a case that has drawn significant attention from the local community, Nicholas Ford, a 48-year-old resident of Whitminster, was found guilty of multiple serious offences related to sexual misconduct and online grooming. The conviction was handed down at Bristol Crown Court on a Friday in May 2016, following a comprehensive four-day trial that examined his actions over a period spanning from June 2012 to March 2013.

Ford was convicted of six separate counts of sexually assaulting a female victim. The court heard that he had initially denied any involvement in these offences, which involved inappropriate and unlawful sexual contact. The judge, Jamie Tabor QC, emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating that engaging in sexual activity with a minor is a grave offence, regardless of whether a victim is physically present or not. Ford is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27 at Bristol Crown Court, where the full extent of his sentencing will be determined.

Prior to this conviction, Ford was involved in another disturbing incident in November 2013, which highlighted his pattern of inappropriate behavior. During this incident, he engaged in sexting with what he believed to be two teenage girls, named Rachel and Amy, through a television dating site. It was later revealed that Ford was under the impression he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl named Rachel and her friend Amy. However, in reality, he was exchanging messages with a 53-year-old man who was deliberately pretending to be a young girl. This man, who was not an undercover officer or part of any sting operation, had set up the fictitious identities to entrap Ford.

Gloucester Crown Court heard that Ford, then aged 45, had initially declined to meet the girls in person, citing a model aeroplane race as his reason for not attending. Despite this, he admitted to deriving sexual gratification from the exchanges, which included explicit messages. Prosecutor Julian Kesner revealed that police found 88 explicit texts on Ford’s phone, many of which were of a sexual nature. The court was told that Ford had been topping up the phone to continue communication with the fictitious girls, unaware that he was speaking to an adult male.

The court also learned that the fake identities, Rachel and Amy, had sent Ford sexual messages, with Rachel claiming to be only 10 years old at one point. The messages included invitations to meet up, which Ford declined due to his commitments to a model plane race. Ford pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, acknowledging his involvement in the inappropriate online exchanges.

During the hearing, Ford’s defense lawyer, Sarah Jenkins, highlighted that her client had no previous convictions and suggested that his actions were out of character. She explained that Ford suffers from depression and has struggled with social relationships as an adult. Jenkins argued that Ford’s fantasies were a form of escapism and that he would have been too scared to follow through with any real-life meeting, emphasizing that there was no actual victim involved in the case.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC responded to these arguments by acknowledging Ford’s social isolation and lack of real-world connections. He stated that Ford’s engagement in sexual conversations with what he believed to be underage girls was a serious offence, regardless of the absence of a physical victim. The judge expressed concern about Ford’s mental state and the need for professional help, stating, “You need help, and you need some serious help so you know why on earth you were doing it.”

As part of his sentence, Ford was given a 12-month prison term, which was suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to undergo 18 months of supervision, pay costs of £300, and sign the Sexual Offenders Register for the next ten years. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of his actions and the importance of monitoring individuals involved in such offences to prevent future harm.