DARREN FORD OF WADLERSLADE CHATHAM TRIES TO STRANGLE TEENAGE GIRL IN HORRIFIC ATTACK

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Chatham, Darren Ford, a 43-year-old man from Oaks Dene, Walderslade, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of attempting to murder a 14-year-old girl. The incident, which took place in June 2013, involved Ford attempting to strangle the young girl with a piece of rope, an act that left her with severe injuries and required hospitalization.

According to reports, Ford was arrested by Kent Police on June 24, 2013, following the attack. He initially claimed that he had discovered the girl with a rope tied around her neck, suggesting a possible suicide attempt. However, medical professionals who examined her became suspicious of his account and promptly alerted law enforcement authorities. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was found with her eyes bulging, her face turning blue, and pinpoint bleeding visible in the whites of her eyes, indicating the severity of the strangulation.

Ford was subsequently charged with attempted murder. During the trial at Maidstone Crown Court, he maintained that he had no memory of the assault, asserting that he had taken the rope intending to end his own life. He described standing over the girl with the rope around her neck, with his hands on each end of the rope, facing her. Despite his claims of amnesia, the prosecution presented evidence that Ford had a clear and settled intention to kill the girl at the time of the attack.

Prosecutor Richard Scott emphasized that Ford, who works for Royal Mail and Asda, had a deliberate intent to cause her death. The court heard that Ford then fabricated a false account of the events after his initial intent was no longer present. The victim, who spent two days in hospital recovering from her injuries, recounted how she was kicking her legs as she felt the tightening of the rope around her neck, illustrating the physical struggle she endured.

Detective Sergeant Ed Scott of Kent Police’s Public Protection Unit described the case as complex and praised the resilience of the young victim. He stated, “This was a complex case. I would like to pay tribute to the victim, who endured a horrendous experience. Despite her trauma and physical injuries, she has made a significant recovery and bravely worked with detectives and medical staff to produce vital evidence that led to Ford’s arrest. My thoughts are with her and her family as she attempts to rebuild her life.”

In the ongoing trial, Ford has denied the charge of attempted murder, instead suggesting that his actions were related to his own suicidal intentions. The court was told that his defense might argue that Ford was experiencing a psychological state known as “disassociation,” which caused him to act without full awareness of his actions. Psychologists and psychiatrists have described this condition as a dissociative state where an individual may act out of their own awareness.

The prosecution highlighted that Ford’s own account of the attack was inconsistent, and the girl’s injuries and testimony provided compelling evidence of the severity of the assault. The case continues to unfold as the court considers the evidence, with the community awaiting further developments in this tragic and disturbing incident.