SIMON HAMMERTON AND HIS SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN MANCHESTER
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community in Greater Manchester, paedophile Simon Hammerton was caught in possession of a bag containing alcohol and condoms while on his way to meet what he believed was an 11-year-old girl.The 33-year-old man’s illicit intentions were thwarted by vigilant paedophile hunters – adults who pose as minors online to catch potential offenders.
The incident unfolded in July when Hammerton arranged to meet an individual he thought was a young girl at Ashton-under-Lyne bus station.
Instead of the innocent meeting he anticipated, he was confronted by a group of adults and was promptly placed under citizen’s arrest.
Following this, officers from Greater Manchester Police were brought in to handle the situation.
During a search of Hammerton’s belongings, officers discovered his bag contained sexual protection and alcohol, suggesting more concerning intentions.
Officers then seized Hammerton’s laptop, which revealed a disturbing pattern of online interactions.
It was uncovered that Hammerton had been communicating with girls from Southampton and Leicestershire, mistakenly believing them to be 12 years old.
He engaged in regular sexualized conversations with these girls, expressing desires to kiss them, and on one occasion, he asked a girl to send a picture of herself in her school uniform or underwear.
Further investigation revealed that Hammerton was also in contact with two other girls, aged 11 and 13, with whom he exchanged explicit messages and images.
These exchanges included videos and photographs depicting Hammerton nude, one of which showed him masturbating and ejaculating, sent to the 11-year-old girl.
The extent of his online activity highlighted a pattern of sexual grooming and exploitation.
The court proceedings, held at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, laid out the full scope of Hammerton’s offending.
Prosecutors detailed his attempts to engage children in sexual communications, his plans to meet children for sexual contact, and his efforts to induce minors to watch sexual acts.
Hammerton pleaded guilty to five charges, including attempting sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, trying to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and two counts of attempting to engage a child in penetrative sexual activity.
Detective Constable Sue Masheter from Greater Manchester Police commented on the case, emphasizing the seriousness of child sexual exploitation.
She stated, “Child Sexual Exploitation takes place in many forms and in this case Hammerton engaged in online communications with what he believed were very young children, not sparing any thought for the lasting damage his actions could have.” She expressed gratitude that Hammerton believed he was communicating with minors, who in reality were adults posing as children, preventing further harm.
Hammerton, a resident of Hyde, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.
The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his future actions and safeguard the community further.
His conviction underscores the ongoing efforts by authorities and online safety groups like STOP to combat online child sexual exploitation and remove dangerous individuals from society.
