A man who sexually assaulted two young girls in a village near Sandwich has been sentenced to seven years in prison, with an additional year on licence, following his conviction at Canterbury Crown Court.
Investigation and Arrest
Jahrad Alderton-Ford, 43, of Cop %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%%, Ash, was arrested in 2022 after Kent Police received reports that two young girls had been sexually assaulted at a property in the village.
Following a detailed %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%%, Alderton-Ford was charged with two counts of sexual assault. He denied the offences, forcing the case to go to trial.
In October 2024, a jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced at Canterbury Crown %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% on February 7, 2025.
Sentencing and Prevention Order
Alderton-Ford was sentenced to:
- Seven years in %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%%
- An additional year on licence upon release
- A Sexual Harm %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%% Order (SHPO), which will remain in place indefinitely to reduce the risk of reoffending
Police Praise Victims' Bravery
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Emma Garcia, who led the investigation for Kent %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%%, commended the victims for their courage in coming forward:
“These were awful offences against young victims, and I am pleased Alderton-Ford has been brought to justice for his actions.
“By refusing to admit what he had done, he forced his victims and their %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%% to go through a trial, but I am pleased the jury saw through his denials.
“I would like to praise the bravery of the victims in this case, and I urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual offences to report it to the police so we can ensure offenders are held responsible for their crimes.”
Reporting Sexual Offences
%%UKNIP_ANCHOR_7%% encourage anyone affected by sexual offences to report incidents confidentially. Victims can:
- Call 101 to speak with officers
- Report anonymously via %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_8%% on 0800 555 111
- Seek support through specialist services such as the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
Alderton-Ford's sentencing marks a significant step in bringing justice to victims and ensuring the safety of the community.
More updates to follow.
