Soldier's Army dream over after forcing teen to perform sexual act for vape

WARNING: This article deals with the subject of sexual offending and may be distressing to some readers.

Joshua Ford was a young soldier when he groomed a teen and coerced her into sexual conduct.

The now 22-year-old had dreams of becoming an officer in the Army, but he was discharged when the charges came to light.

When he appeared in court for sentencing today his lawyer sought a discharge without conviction, arguing convictions for grooming and sexual conduct with a young person would jeopardise his hopes of rejoining the New Zealand Defence Force in the future.

Ford was supported at the Christchurch District Court by his parents.

His lawyer Anne Stevens, KC, said Ford was aged 20 at the time of the offending and now had his whole life ahead of him.

A conviction would be a huge handicap in terms of his adult life, Stevens said.

Judge Quentin Hix said he struggled with her submission, adding he had read material that indicated someone who had been discharged from the Defence Force was unlikely to be successful if they tried to re-enlist.

Judge Hix said the impact statements from the girl and her mother were brief but talked about the teen having emotional struggles and trust issues, which were reinforced by Ford’s actions.

“This offending reinforced that lack of trust; this offending reinforced her mistrust of the adult world.”

A vape pen for sexual favours

The summary of facts showed Ford created a social media account on Wizz in April 2024, imputing a false birth date of November 2006.

In June 2024, days away from turning 15, the girl created an account on Wizz, inputting her true date of birth.

Joshua William Ford was discharged from the Army when charges against him came to light. Photo / Al Williams

Ford matched with her on Wizz and shortly after the pair added each other on social messaging app Snapchat and began chatting.

Ford told her he would buy her a vape pen in return for sexual favours.

He arranged to pick the victim up just after midnight, three days after her 15th birthday, reiterating his promise about the vape pen.

She believed he was 17 and at one point during the messaging, Ford sent her a nude photograph of himself.

After picking the teen up, Ford drove her to a secluded spot in the red zone in Burwood, Christchurch, and told her to perform a sex act on him.

She was reluctant, but Ford insisted, according to the summary.

At one point she felt shocked and scared.

She also felt forced to perform the act as Ford pulled her towards him.

He then grabbed and hurt the girl by digging his fingers into her neck as he began to kiss her.

He wouldn’t allow her to use her phone throughout the meeting.

He gave her a vape pen and drove her home.

When spoken to by police, Ford said the teen had told him she was 17.

He admitted to police it was likely he knew the victim was aged 14 when messaging her before meeting.

Judge Hix said the consequences of a conviction were relatively moderate, and the entry of a conviction would not be disproportionate to the offending.

He convicted and sentenced Ford to six months’ community detention, 15 months of intensive supervision and ordered him to make a $2000 emotional harm payment.

SEXUAL HARM

Where to get help:
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email support@safetotalk.nz
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the Hauraki-Coromandel Post, based in Whangamatā. He was previously deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.