Luke Ford, a Scottish man who once stepped in as a body double for the renowned actor Brad Pitt, found himself facing a grim fate as he was handed a sentence of 16 years in prison by the High Court in Edinburgh. This verdict came in the wake of a string of grave charges brought against Ford, including disturbing acts of abuse against multiple women, with rape being among the most serious accusations leveled against him. The announcement detailing these developments was made by the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland.
Throughout a span of 12 years, the 35-year-old Ford targeted women whom he had connected with through various dating applications, subjecting them to unspeakable physical and sexual mistreatment. Reports from prosecutors disclosed that Ford’s reprehensible behavior extended to acts such as strangulation, violently smashing a partner’s head against a car window, slapping another across the face, and resorting to blackmail tactics by threatening to expose intimate photographs he had taken of his victims to their employers or families. These disturbing revelations were outlined in a report by the BBC.
Scottish Police Detective Inspector Steven Gray did not mince words in describing Ford, unequivocally labeling him as a “dangerous and manipulative sexual predator.” In expressing hope for the victims, Gray remarked, “I hope that knowing he is now behind bars for his crimes helps them continue to move forward with their lives.”
Among the litany of 19 convictions that Ford faced, one particularly heinous charge was related to an act known as “stealthing.” This act, defined as surreptitiously engaging in sexual intercourse without the use of a protective condom and without the knowledge or consent of one’s partner, was deemed tantamount to rape by prosecutors. Notably, Ford’s conviction on this charge marked a precedent-setting development in the legal landscape of Scotland.
A harrowing account provided by one of Ford’s rape victims shed light on the devastating impact of his actions. The victim recounted an incident in 2017 when she had explicitly handed Ford a condom in a bid to safeguard against unwanted pregnancy, only to be deceived by his subsequent actions. Despite her clear instructions, Ford callously disregarded her consent and later callously admitted to not adhering to their agreement. The victim shared, “I was shocked and upset… I asked him to leave. I felt completely violated.”
Ford’s audacious response to his victim’s distress further underscored his callous and manipulative nature. Upon being confronted about his deceitful conduct, Ford callously dismissed the victim’s concerns by labeling her as “paranoid” and callously advised her to take emergency contraceptive measures.
The court proceedings also unveiled insights into Ford’s background and aspirations. Hailing from Stirling, Scotland, Ford was depicted as an aspiring actor who had once taken on the role of Brad Pitt’s body double during the filming of the movie “World War Z” in Glasgow back in 2013.
