Roland Ford “AKA” (Rowland Ford) was arrested on Thursday 20th July at around 11am at the Stow after arranging to meet one of our decoys online. Ford was chatting to he thought was a young child under the age of 16.
Essex Police were alerted of the incident by one of our investigators, and acted quickly to arrest Ford and take him to Harlow Custody.
The male traveled from his home in Church Langely to the Stow where he waited for over twenty minutes for the child to join him in his car whilst still continuing to message him, but instead was met by officers from Essex Police.
Ford 50 of Wedgewood Drive in Harlow, was arrested and charged for Attempting to meet a boy under 16 and for breeching a sexual harm prevention order.
He was remanded and appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today (Saturday 22nd July) where he pleaded not-guilty to arranging to meet a child under the age of 16 and breeching an existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Fords employer “OCS Retail Support” have been asked for a comment, and we are awaiting a reply.
The case has now been transferred up to Chelmsford Crown court, for another plea hearing on the 21st August 2017 if he pleads not guilty again it will go to trial.
Please be aware that this person has been arrested after one or more of our investigators were contacted by them. They thought they were contacting a child under the age of 16. We do not entrap anyone and its the persons choice to meet the person they think is a child. Some cases we are unable to name them straight away due to the CPS requirements. They have been arrested on suspicion, and its down to the CPS to either NFA them or charge them for them to appear in court. If they are charged and the case goes to court, we will publish the entire chat logs, pictures and names of the people involved. If the Police feel they are unlikely to bring conviction against them, it doesn’t mean they are not guilty, and we will then publish the chat logs for the public to see.
Just like to thank you for what you are doing and if it was not for people like you there will be a lot more out there keep it up