PHILIP HAMER OF WORSLEY SENTENCED TO 28 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN MANCHESTER

In a highly disturbing case that has shocked the community of Worsley and the wider Manchester area, Philip Hamer, a 34-year-old man with a background as a professional ice hockey player and occasional TV actor, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 28 years for a series of heinous sexual offences involving minors.

During the sentencing at Manchester Crown Court, the victims, seven young girls who endured unimaginable abuse, expressed their relief and support for justice by applauding the judge and breaking into tears from the public gallery. The court heard that Hamer was responsible for a total of 41 sexual offences, which included grooming, sexual assault, and the production of indecent images of children.

The court was informed that Hamer, who resided on Birchfield Drive in Worsley, had a deeply distorted perception of children, viewing them as objects for sexual gratification. His offending pattern revealed a predatory approach, targeting girls primarily in their early to mid-teens through social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. These platforms were exploited by Hamer to establish contact, manipulate, and groom his victims before subjecting them to sexual abuse.

Hamer’s criminal activities began when he was just 20 years old, grooming his first victim, a 14-year-old girl, via Facebook in 2010. Over the years, he continued his predatory behaviour, grooming an 11-year-old girl when he was 27, through Snapchat. His actions demonstrated a disturbing pattern of targeting vulnerable minors, often using his vehicle to take victims to isolated locations where the abuse occurred.

Despite admitting to 20 offences, Hamer denied others, claiming that one victim was “wanton” and “sexually experienced,” attempting to cast doubt on the allegations. However, after a trial that concluded in November, a jury found him guilty of an additional 21 offences. The judge, Sarah Johnston, sentenced him to 28 years in prison, with an extended license period of eight years, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.

In her remarks, Judge Johnston described Hamer’s conduct as manipulative and coercive, stating, “These were no relationships – you manipulated and groomed these young girls, inexperienced and impressionable as they were, in a way that was controlling and coercive. Your offending is both opportunistic and actively seeking out, manipulating, grooming, exploiting and the abuse of female children, mostly teens but including a child as young as 11.”

The court also heard that Hamer sent unsolicited explicit images and incited his victims to send him hundreds of pictures and videos. His sexual interests reportedly included fetishes involving school uniforms. The abuse often took place in secluded areas, with Hamer using his car to transport victims to isolated spots where the assaults occurred.

Further disturbing evidence revealed that Hamer had taken voyeuristic videos and photographs of women in changing rooms without their knowledge. These images were discovered on his seized phone, which also contained “trophy images” of his sexual abuse, indicating a pattern of prolific offending. The police investigation traced multiple victims over the years, leading to his conviction on a total of 41 counts, including sexual activity with a child, sexual communication, meeting a child after grooming, indecent images, voyeurism, rape, and inciting sexual acts.

Hamer’s criminal record spans from 2010 to 2023, with allegations dating back over a decade. Despite previous warnings and police contact in 2011, no formal investigation was initiated until a victim came forward in 2023. This led to the seizure of his phone and the subsequent uncovering of his extensive offending history, which ultimately resulted in his conviction and sentencing.