Philip Hamer

Philip Hamer, a 34-year-old former ice hockey player from Worsley, Greater Manchester, has been convicted at Manchester Crown Court of a series of serious sexual offences committed over more than a decade. Described by police as a 'prolific' predator, Hamer targeted vulnerable young girls through social media platforms, grooming and manipulating them into sending explicit images and videos before escalating to physical assaults and rapes.

The offences, which involved eight victims, occurred between 2010 and 2023. Hamer was charged in March 2024 after one brave victim came forward, prompting police to seize his phone and uncover evidence leading to the identification of additional survivors. He had already admitted to several charges prior to the trial, but a jury found him guilty of 21 further counts on 29 November 2024. These included eight counts of rape, seven counts of sexual assault, six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual activity with a child. In total, Hamer was convicted on 33 charges.

• Hamer used social media apps to initiate contact with his victims, exploiting their vulnerabilities and instilling fear to maintain control.
• Many victims were teenagers at the time of the abuse, with Hamer, who was significantly older, offering lifts and learning their personal details to further manipulate them.
• Over seven years, he coerced victims into sending hundreds of pictures and videos.
• Police also discovered voyeuristic material on his devices, including videos and pictures secretly filmed of unaware individuals in changing rooms.

Detective Constable Denise Garde of Greater Manchester Police commended the victims' courage in her statement: 'Firstly, I would like to commend the bravery of those victims who came forward and reported their abuse to us. Time is no barrier when it comes to being sexually abused – no matter how long ago it was, or old you were at the time, we will listen to you.' She further detailed Hamer's methods: 'Hamer managed to instil fear in his victims - he was much older than them, he offered them lifts in his car so he knew where they lived. He groomed the victims and survivors at the centre of their case, instilled fear, and exploited their vulnerabilities.' The investigation began with one victim's report, which 'opened up the whole case and resulted in us obtaining evidence that Hamer was a prolific sex offender.'

Hamer, who had appeared as an extra on television shows such as Coronation Street, faces a lengthy custodial sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for January 2025 at Manchester Crown Court. This case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of reporting abuse, no matter the time elapsed.