STEPHEN FORD FROM WARTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN PRESTON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Stephen Ford, a resident of Warton, was ultimately sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of multiple charges related to child abuse and possession of indecent material. The case came to light following a police investigation into international child internet pornography, which led to a detailed raid on Ford’s residence.

During the operation, known as Operation Nickel, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ford’s home in Warton, a village near Preston. The police confiscated a significant amount of evidence, including numerous recordings depicting a man engaging in sexual acts with children. In addition to the videos, investigators also seized thousands of pornographic images stored on various devices within Ford’s property.

The police investigation was able to identify and trace the identities of three young victims involved in the recordings, which played a crucial role in building the case against Ford. The evidence was presented at Preston Crown Court, where Ford, aged 47, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges related to child pornography. These charges encompassed the making of the videos, possession of indecent images, and other related offenses.

Ford admitted to five counts of indecent assault, five charges of indecency with a child, two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child via video, three counts of possessing indecent photographs of a child, and two charges of making indecent photographs of a child. The offenses spanned a period from 1998 up until December 2002, highlighting a prolonged pattern of criminal activity.

Following his guilty plea, Ford was sentenced to six years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register, a measure aimed at monitoring his activities upon release and preventing further harm to children. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable victims from such heinous crimes.