HYDE PAEDOPHILE SIMON HAMMERTON CAUGHT WITH BOOZE AND CONDOMS WHILE TRYING TO MEET 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN GREATER MANCHESTER

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilant law enforcement, Simon Hammerton, a 33-year-old man from Hyde, was apprehended after attempting to meet what he believed was an 11-year-old girl in Greater Manchester. The incident unfolded in July when Hammerton arranged to meet the supposed child at Ashton-under-Lyne bus station, only to be met by a group of adults who had been posing as minors online as part of a paedophile hunter operation.

Hammerton’s arrest was swift and decisive. When he arrived at the designated meeting point, he was immediately detained by the adults, who then handed him over to Greater Manchester Police. During the subsequent search, officers discovered that Hammerton’s bag contained a collection of items that raised serious concerns, including condoms and alcohol. These items suggested premeditation and intent to engage in sexual activity, further complicating the case.

Following his arrest, authorities seized Hammerton’s laptop, which revealed a disturbing pattern of online behavior. Investigators uncovered that Hammerton had been engaging in conversations with multiple girls from different parts of the country, including Southampton and Leicestershire. He believed these girls were 12 years old, and his communications with them were deeply inappropriate and sexually explicit. Hammerton frequently expressed a desire to kiss the girls and, on one occasion, asked a girl to send a picture of herself in her school uniform or underwear.

His online interactions extended to at least two other girls, whom he believed were 11 and 13 years old. Throughout these conversations, Hammerton engaged in sexual talk, sending explicit images and videos of himself, including one where he was masturbating and ejaculating. These actions demonstrate a clear pattern of grooming and sexual exploitation of minors.

The case was brought before Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, where the full extent of Hammerton’s offending was revealed. The court heard that his attempts to meet the girl in Ashton-under-Lyne were thwarted when he was confronted by the adults posing as children. His possession of condoms and alcohol at the time further underscored his intent to commit sexual acts with minors.

Hammerton faced multiple charges, including five counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity. His actions have led to a significant prison sentence, with Hammerton being sentenced to five years and four months in prison. Additionally, he has been placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent any further offenses.

His conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.