Luke Ford: Actor who claimed he was ‘Brad Pitt body double’ jailed for rapes – including secretly not using condom
An actor – who claimed he stood in as a body double for Brad Pitt – has been jailed for 16 years for a string of sex attacks, including rape for secretly not using a condom during sex.
The prosecution is the first in Scotland for “stealthing” – where a condom is removed or not used without a partner’s knowledge.
Luke Ford, 35, denied any wrongdoing but was last year found guilty of a spate of offences following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
He was convicted of 19 charges of abusing nine female partners, including raping six of them and the attempted rape of another.
Jurors heard how he terrorised his victims over a 12-year period between 2008 and 2020, subjecting them to physical, mental and sexual abuse.
Ford was said to be a jobbing actor and model who appeared in a pop video by Deacon Blue and claimed he was a stand-in for Brad Pitt on the 2013 film World War Z, part of which was shot in Glasgow.
His trial heard how he preyed on women on dating apps, first showering them with affection before financially exploiting, controlling and abusing them.
Luke Ford. Pic: Facebook
‘I felt completely violated’
In the “stealthing” case, Ford was said to have met a woman via Tinder in 2017 and after a few dates they discussed having sex.
The woman messaged Ford stipulating that he use protection because she did not want to risk pregnancy, to which he reportedly replied: “Good idea.”
While in bed, the woman handed him a condom but he later admitted that he had not used it.
She told the court: “I was shocked and upset. I would not have had sex with him without a condom. I asked him to leave. I felt completely violated.”
When she confronted him the next day with the concern that she could be pregnant, he dismissed her as “paranoid”, saying that it was “no big deal” and to take the morning-after pill.
He reportedly texted: “Just get the pill and if you are pregnant get rid of it.”
The High Court in Edinburgh. Pic: PA
Violent attacks and intimate videos
Ford was also convicted of a number of assaults, including strangling, smashing one partner’s head off a car window, and slapping another hard across the face.
He also took intimate videos and photographs of partners, often covertly, and threatened to show them to their employers and family if they did not do as he wished.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said several victims described being isolated from their family and friends while under Ford’s abusive and controlling behaviour.
He was also convicted of possessing extreme pornographic images involving bestiality.
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Could ‘seriously endanger’ women again
Ford, originally of Stirling, was sentenced by Lord Summers at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
The judge had deliberated on whether to impose an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR), but instead handed the accused a 21-year extended sentence, with 16 years in jail and five years on licence once released back into the community.
Lord Summers said he was dissuaded from imposing an OLR due to a number of reasons, including Ford’s lack of previous convictions and a “willingness to accept the wrongfulness” of his conduct.
The judge said: “While this is not a decisive factor, I consider that it indicates that you are gaining some insight into the true nature of your conduct rather than blaming the victims.”
Ford was also said to have voluntarily undertaken a series of educational programmes in prison designed to provide insight into his offending behaviour.
Lord Summers said he had “reason to think” Ford “may be amenable to change”.
However, the judge noted evidence showed that there is a “likelihood” on release he will “seriously endanger the public and specifically women”.
Lord Summers said any risk posed will be “best managed” by the extended sentence.
Ford was also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and banned from contacting his victims.
‘Manipulative sexual predator’
Police Scotland’s Detective Inspector Steven Gray branded Ford a “manipulative sexual predator”.
Katrina Parkes, Scotland’s procurator fiscal for high court sexual offending, added: “Luke Ford is a serial offender who demonstrated no respect for the consent of his victims.
“He was prepared to use manipulation, force or threats to carry out his abuse. He showed disregard for the importance of consent between partners.
“I hope that the many victims in this troubling case find some relief in Ford being held accountable for his offending. I commend them for their courage and strength.”
A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an elderly couple died following a fire at their home in St Helens.
Peter Eric Greener, 77, known as Eric, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, were caught in the blaze at their home on South John Street in the early hours of Tuesday.
Mr Greener died on Wednesday, while Ms Jackson died on Thursday.
Eric Greener. Pic: Merseyside Police
Sheila Jackson. Pic: Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police said an accelerant was used to start the fire.
On Sunday, the force said the suspect from St Helens had been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning.
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Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “Although an arrest has been made, I would like to take this opportunity to remind people to pass on information directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, and not to comment or post in any way which jeopardises this ongoing work.”
DS Wilson said “extensive enquiries” continue.
She added: “And to that end we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly if you live in the area of South John Street and recall seeing or hearing anything suspicious at around the time of the incident.
“Please do not assume what you know has already been reported to us, as we can quickly make that assessment.”
UK
How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit – and many of them work for fast food delivery firms
It’s lunchtime on Birmingham’s New Street.
Close to its many restaurants, food delivery riders are congregating on their bikes.
The area is packed with shoppers and workers.
PC Paige Gartlan is approaching with other officers. She’s on the lookout for illegally modified e-bikes – and she knows she’ll find them here.
“You can physically tell by looking at the bike that it’s generally going to be illegal – the battery pack is taped on to the sides and generally the size of the motor that’s on the back wheel,” she explains.
Sky News has been invited on an operation by West Midlands Police to find these bikes and get them off the streets.
PC Gartlan has been hit by one before. She’s had to tackle a rider to the floor after he drove into her.
Within minutes, she’s spotted a suspicious-looking bike. The rider makes a run for it – followed by plain-clothed officers.
PC Gartlan tests the bike – it’s showing a top speed of 52km/hr on the speedometer – just over 30mph.
PC Paige Gartlan with a seized e-bike
The speed limit for e-bikes in the UK is 15.5mph when using electric power for assistance.
I look up the street and another two riders have been detained. In less than an hour, officers have confiscated four bikes – all were being ridden by fast food delivery drivers.
The commotion is attracting a lot of attention.
“They are dangerous,” Sandra, who has just finished work, tells me.
Demoz had his bike taken by police
She’s stood watching the riders being questioned. She says she’s had near-misses herself and is worried for the safety of the elderly and children.
It’s not just West Midlands police officers here – immigration officials are carrying out checks too. They’re involved in a nationwide operation, which has seen more than 7,000 arrests in the last year – a 50% increase on last year.
Matthew Foster, the immigration enforcement lead officer for the West Midlands, tells me they’ve already found one individual who has entered the UK unlawfully.
“He’s been detained,” he says, “to affect his removal from the UK.”
Further down the street, police are loading illegally modified bikes on to a van – they’re destined to be crushed. One of them had belonged to Demoz.
Read more:
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An e-bike seized by West Midlands Police
He’s on his way home, carrying a big box with the logo of one of the main fast food delivery firms on it.
He tells me he used to have an illegal bike, but he thought his new one was legal.
“I make a mistake, I have to say sorry, I will do better for the future,” he says.
I get in touch with the big delivery firms; Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat.
Their representatives say they constantly remind workers of their safety obligations, and that they’re all working closely with the government to increase security checks on riders.
As he leaves, Demoz, now bike-free, tells me he’s thinking of changing his job.
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