Harlow MAN ROLAND FORD CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 15-YEAR-OLD BOY AT THE STOW SHOPPING CENTRE
| Red Rose Database
Harlow Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing incident that unfolded in Harlow, Essex, authorities apprehended Roland James Ford, a 51-year-old man from Wedgewood Drive, after he attempted to meet a minor he believed to be a 15-year-old boy. The encounter was set to take place near The Stow shopping centre on July 20, 2017, but Ford’s plans were thwarted by an undercover operation conducted by child protection specialists.
Law enforcement officers, working as part of a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) interception team, had established a fake online profile on the popular gay dating app Grindr. This profile used a stock image of a 15-year-old boy to lure potential offenders. Ford, under his own account with the username ‘Harlownow,’ initiated contact with the fake profile, which was set up to resemble a teenage boy. At the time, Ford listed his age as 50 and sent a simple message: “Hi.”
The fake profile responded with “Hey,” prompting Ford to ask, “You okay?” The investigator behind the profile replied that they were bored, mentioning the start of school holidays. Ford then inquired about the age of the person he was speaking to, to which the fake profile responded that they were 15. Ford’s subsequent message was explicit, stating, “Oh sorry I didn’t realise you were that young. Was going to ask if you wanted your **** sucked but I guess you’re too young for that.”
Following this exchange, arrangements were made for Ford to pick up the ‘boy’ in his BMW from a nearby car park close to his residence. At this point, the undercover team contacted Essex Police, who responded swiftly by dispatching two patrol cars to arrest Ford. During his arrest, Ford made a remark indicating prior knowledge of similar allegations, saying, “I wouldn’t do that, I have been done for that before.”
Authorities conducted a thorough search of Ford’s vehicle and home. In his car’s glove compartment, officers discovered unused condoms and lubricants, which were also found during a subsequent search of his residence. Further investigation of his digital devices revealed that the last search term he entered was ‘gay teen tube,’ and the last website he visited was ‘gayboystube.com,’ indicating a pattern of interest in explicit content involving young males.
Ford’s criminal history includes a previous conviction for sexual activity with a male under the age of 16. He was also subject to a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO), which prohibited him from contacting the complainant or any male under 16 through any means, including electronic communication. Despite these restrictions, Ford’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law.
During his court appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 13, Judge Patricia Lynch QC addressed the seriousness of his conduct, stating, “There is a risk of serious harm of adolescent and young boys with your communication with them over the internet.” The judge sentenced Ford to three years in prison, with an additional two-year extension, making a total of five years for both counts of arranging to commit a child sex offence and breaching the Sexual Offence Prevention Order. Furthermore, Ford’s previous SOPO was revoked, and he was issued a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which will remain in effect indefinitely, underscoring the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Law enforcement officers, working as part of a Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) interception team, had established a fake online profile on the popular gay dating app Grindr. This profile used a stock image of a 15-year-old boy to lure potential offenders. Ford, under his own account with the username ‘Harlownow,’ initiated contact with the fake profile, which was set up to resemble a teenage boy. At the time, Ford listed his age as 50 and sent a simple message: “Hi.”
The fake profile responded with “Hey,” prompting Ford to ask, “You okay?” The investigator behind the profile replied that they were bored, mentioning the start of school holidays. Ford then inquired about the age of the person he was speaking to, to which the fake profile responded that they were 15. Ford’s subsequent message was explicit, stating, “Oh sorry I didn’t realise you were that young. Was going to ask if you wanted your **** sucked but I guess you’re too young for that.”
Following this exchange, arrangements were made for Ford to pick up the ‘boy’ in his BMW from a nearby car park close to his residence. At this point, the undercover team contacted Essex Police, who responded swiftly by dispatching two patrol cars to arrest Ford. During his arrest, Ford made a remark indicating prior knowledge of similar allegations, saying, “I wouldn’t do that, I have been done for that before.”
Authorities conducted a thorough search of Ford’s vehicle and home. In his car’s glove compartment, officers discovered unused condoms and lubricants, which were also found during a subsequent search of his residence. Further investigation of his digital devices revealed that the last search term he entered was ‘gay teen tube,’ and the last website he visited was ‘gayboystube.com,’ indicating a pattern of interest in explicit content involving young males.
Ford’s criminal history includes a previous conviction for sexual activity with a male under the age of 16. He was also subject to a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO), which prohibited him from contacting the complainant or any male under 16 through any means, including electronic communication. Despite these restrictions, Ford’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law.
During his court appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 13, Judge Patricia Lynch QC addressed the seriousness of his conduct, stating, “There is a risk of serious harm of adolescent and young boys with your communication with them over the internet.” The judge sentenced Ford to three years in prison, with an additional two-year extension, making a total of five years for both counts of arranging to commit a child sex offence and breaching the Sexual Offence Prevention Order. Furthermore, Ford’s previous SOPO was revoked, and he was issued a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which will remain in effect indefinitely, underscoring the ongoing risk he poses to the community.