PHIL HEMMANS FROM SACRISTON SHOCKS COMMUNITY WITH SEX OFFENDER PAST AT ROSSINGTON DEVELOPMENT TRUST

In a disturbing revelation that has sent shockwaves through the community of Sacriston and beyond, the case of Phil Hemmans, a man with a deeply troubling past, has come under intense scrutiny. Hemmans, who was recently appointed as the chief executive of the Rossington Development Trust (RDT), a position that commands a salary of approximately £29,000 annually, has a history that raises serious questions about his suitability for such a role.

Hemmans, aged 38, was previously convicted in August 2001 for engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl. The conviction followed a covert operation by the girl’s parents, who secretly recorded Hemmans in their home after growing suspicious of his interactions with their daughter. The footage revealed Hemmans behaving inappropriately, prompting immediate police intervention. During police interviews, Hemmans admitted to engaging in multiple sexual encounters with the girl, including oral sex, and claimed that she was the one initiating the acts. The court sentenced him to two years in prison, with a minimum of nine months to be served, and he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.

At the time of his conviction, Hemmans was serving as the director of the Julie Graham Children’s Charity in County Durham. His past actions have since become a source of outrage and concern among local residents, especially in the mining village near Doncaster where the charity was based. The revelation that Hemmans had been appointed to a significant leadership role at the RDT, which receives European funding, has sparked widespread protests and demands for his resignation.

The family of the victim, who last night voiced their outrage, expressed their disbelief and disgust at the decision to employ Hemmans. The girl’s father stated, “We are disgusted and shocked that the panel have employed this person — when they were aware he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. They should remove him. He comes across as an intelligent and bright, but he is a monster and people need to know this.”

According to the family, Hemmans exploited a friendship between their family and his own to manipulate their daughter, who had an obvious crush on him. Despite their efforts to prevent contact, Hemmans persisted in maintaining a relationship with her, filling her head with false promises and misleading notions. The mother of the girl added, “He filled our daughters’ heads with rubbish. We trusted him with our most valuable possessions — our children. He should not be allowed in a position of trust.”

In response to the controversy, the Rossington Development Trust issued a statement defending their decision to hire Hemmans. Malcolm Clark, the chairman of the trust, explained that Hemmans had served his sentence and that all necessary checks had been conducted. Clark emphasized that Hemmans’ contract explicitly prohibits any contact with young women or access to their files, and that the trust was fully aware of his past conviction before making the appointment. He further stated that Hemmans was appointed with “full knowledge of his conviction” and that all relevant authorities had been contacted.

The trust’s responsibilities include managing the Rossington Miners Welfare Scheme, which encompasses a social club and sports clubs with several teams. Hemmans’ role is described as “purely administrative,” and he is not expected to have direct dealings with the clubs or their members. The scheme was scheduled to take over management of the welfare facilities at the beginning of this month, raising further concerns about the oversight and suitability of Hemmans in such a position.

Previously, in August 2001, Hemmans’ past was exposed when a video recorded secretly by the victim’s parents revealed him behaving inappropriately with the girl. The footage showed Hemmans acting in a juvenile manner, skipping across the living room floor and becoming intimate with the girl, which prompted the parents to contact the police. The court heard that Hemmans had taken advantage of a friendship between the families, especially during a holiday together, where he spent significant time alone with the girl, even while on holiday with his wife. The video evidence confirmed the allegations, leading to his conviction and imprisonment.

Hemmans, who previously resided on Charlow Close in Sacriston, now lives in the South with his wife. The case has left the community reeling, with residents expressing their outrage and concern over the appointment. The victim’s parents described their sense of betrayal as “overwhelming,” emphasizing that Hemmans appeared to be a “very kind person,” but that this was merely an act. They lamented that their initial belief in a teenage crush was misguided, and that the reality of his actions has caused irreparable damage to their family. The community continues to debate the appropriateness of his employment, with many calling for further scrutiny and accountability.