Victims clap as paedophile jailed for 28 years

A "controlling" former ice hockey player and TV extra, who raped and sexually abused seven girls, has been jailed for 28 years.

Philip Hamer from Worsley in Salford, used social media to target and groom children as young as 11 between 2010 and 2023.

The 34-year-old, a bit-part actor on TV soaps, was found guilty of 21 sexual offences after a trial, having previously admitted to 20 others.

His victims clapped the judge and burst into tears in the public gallery at Manchester Crown Court as the defendant was sentenced.

Hamer's offences included rape, sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, grooming, and taking indecent images.

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, the court heard.

"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," Judge Sarah Johnston told Harmer.

Hamer would send unsolicited pictures and incited his victims to send hundreds of pictures and videos, his sexual desires often involving school uniforms, his trial heard.

He often used his car to take his victims to isolated places where the abuse took place.

The court heard he had a "wholly distorted view of children as sexual objects", and was attracted to girls in their early to mid-teens.

One victim feared that Hamer may disclose the pictures to others or come to their home.

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.

His phone was seized which contained "trophy images" of sexual abuse, revealing him to be a prolific offender as detectives traced further victims.

Hamer had admitted 20 offences but denied others, claiming one victim was "wanton" and "sexually experienced".

But he was found guilty by a jury of a further 21 offences after a trial ending in November.

Statements from victims detailed the trauma of their "lost innocence", some continue to have therapy to come to terms with what has happened and others spoke of their 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 to Hamer: "I pray you find God."

He was jailed and given an extended licence period of eight years.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.