A man from Worsley has been jailed for 36 years for sexual offences against seven young girls over a 13 year period.
Philip Hamer was previously found guilty by a majority verdict of 21 charges following a trial in November 2024, which included 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.
In total, the 34-year-old was convicted of 41 charges, each relating to offences taking place between 2010 and 2023.
He pleaded guilty to several of these charges before the trial took place.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that many of Hamer’s victims were teenagers at the time they were abused, but it was after one victim bravely came forward that Hamer’s phone was seized, enabling police to trace further victims.
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One victim explained the physical and mental toil the abuse at the hands of Hamer had taken on her in a powerful victim impact statement that was read out in court.
He is also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, indefinite restraining orders against the victims, he is barred from working with children, and he will be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
The victim described Hamer as “the man who took away my innocence at such a young age.”
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“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,” she said in her statement.
Following the trail, Hamer was yesterday (5 February 2025) sentenced to 36 years in prison.
He is now also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, indefinite restraining orders against the victims, barred from working with children, and he will be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
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Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Constable Denise Garde explained how Philip Hamer “a denial for any wrongdoing in his actions” in his police interview, adding that “he did not believe that he was a sexual predator and that his actions caused severe harm and distress to his victims.”
“It took one brave victim to come forward, speak to our officers, and detail their abuse, and this opened up the whole case and resulted in us obtaining evidence that Hamer was a prolific sex offender.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
Emily Sergeant -
6th February 2025 
