Former soap star jailed for 28 years
<p>Former soap star Phil Hamer has been sentenced to 28 years in jail after being found guilty of raping and sexually abusing seven girls between 2010 and 2023. </p>
<p>Hamer used social media to target and groom children, with one of his victims only being 11-years-old. </p>
<p>He targeted his first victim, a 14-year-old girl, on Facebook in 2010. </p>
<p>The 34-year-old, who appeared on UK dramas <em>Hollyoaks</em> and <em>Coronation Stree</em>t, received a 36-year sentence including an eight-year extended licence period after he was found guilty of 33 rape and assault charges.</p>
<p>Hamer was convicted of a total of 41 charges, including eight counts of rape, six 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.</p>
<p>“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 reportedly told Harmer, per the <em>BBC</em>. </p>
<p>Other offences include taking indecent images of his victims, many of them teenagers at the time they were abused, according to Greater Manchester Police.</p>
<p>“After one victim came forward, Hamer’s phone was seized which enabled police to trace further victims,” the police said.</p>
<p>“In his police interview, Hamer showed a denial for any wrongdoing in his actions. He did not believe that he was a sexual predator and that his actions caused severe harm and distress to his victims,” Detective Constable Denise Garde said. </p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>Hamer would also send unsolicited pictures to his victims and tracked their movements. </p>
<p>During his trial, one of Hamer's victims read out a heartbreaking statement about the toll of the abuse in court. </p>
<p>“Philip Hamer, the man who took away my innocence at such a young age,” the victim said.</p>
<p>“The man who made me feel so ashamed of myself for so many years. The man that made me feel disgusted in myself. The man that made me feel so lonely as I was too afraid to open up to anyone, I couldn’t even speak to my mum, my friends, my family.</p>
<p>“He made me feel fear, distress and trauma no young girl should have to go through. He took away my spark and gave me so much anxiety.</p>
<p>“For years I was too ashamed to look at myself in the mirror, as all I saw was the girl that a man lusted over.</p>
<p>“He will never earn my forgiveness for what he did to me. He doesn’t deserve it. But I am no longer going to let him have a hold on my life like he once did.</p>
<p>“I can now continue to succeed in life, knowing I finally have the justice me and the other girls whose lives he impacted deserve.</p>
<p>“This man changed the course of my life, what he did to me impacted on my schooling massively and it isolated me from my friendship group.</p>
<p>“When I should have been enjoying school, growing up having new experiences with friends, I was controlled by that man, making me believe that he would disclose my worst secrets to my friends.</p>
<p>“This impacted on my relationships, making me feel guilty for what he did to me.”</p>
<p><em>Image: Manchester Phoenix</em></p>
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