A former ice hockey player and TV extra has been jailed for 36 years for the rape and sexual abuse of seven girls, including one as young as 11.
Philip Hamer, 34, of Worsley, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of 41 sexual offences carried out between 2010 and 2023, including eight counts of rape.
Hamer, who the court heard had a “wholly distorted view of children as sexual objects”, admitted 20 offences but denied others, claiming one victim was “wanton” and “sexually experienced”.
He was attracted to girls in their early to mid-teens and used social media including Snapchat and Instagram to target and make contact with his victims, manipulating and grooming the girls before sexually abusing them.
Follow our channel and never miss an update
He was 20 when he groomed his first victim, aged 14, through Facebook in 2010 and went on to groom an 11-year-old, when he was aged 27, through Snapchat.
Hamer was on Wednesday sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to 36 years imprisonment, including a minimum of 28 years with an extended licence period of eight years.
Read more from Sky News:
Gazans tell US president to ‘go to hell’
Kay Burley retires from Sky News after 36 years
Families of Nottingham attack victims say new review shows killer should face murder retrial
Axel Rudakubana’s anti-terror referral should have been kept open, review finds
Money blog: Interest rate cut almost certain to be announced – as inflation no longer Bank’s main concern
Judge Sarah Johnston told the defendant: “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.”
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Victim impact statements detailed the trauma of the “lost innocence” of the youngsters he abused, some still having therapy or suffering issues with alcohol and self-harm.
One woman said: “I have never had a successful relationship because of my trauma. It’s completely messed up my whole life,” while another said: “I pray you find God.”
His offences also included: nine counts of sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, two counts of meeting a child after sexual grooming, one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, seven counts of taking indecent photos of a child, one count of taking voyeurism images, six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of assault by penetration and two sexual assaults.
Allegations were made against him in 2011 and he was “spoken to”, the court heard, but no police investigation was launched until one victim came forward in 2023.
Detective Constable Denise Garde said: “He incited his victims to send him hundreds of pictures and videos over a period of seven years. One victim was in fear that Hamer may disclose the pictures to others or come to their address.
“After seizing his devices, we later found voyeuristic videos and pictures Hamer had taken of people in changing rooms who were not aware they were being filmed.
“It took one brave victim to come forward, speak to our officers and detail their abuse. This opened up the whole case and resulted in us obtaining evidence that Hamer was a prolific sex offender.”
