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Drayton Manor ride operator admits to sexual assault of 19 girls under 13

Josef Luke Hammond, 24, pleaded guilty at Stafford Crown Court after a girl told her parent about inappropriate touching.

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
A former Drayton Manor theme park ride operator has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting 19 girls, all under the age of 13, while working at the Staffordshire attraction last year.

Josef Luke Hammond, 24, from Birmingham, worked as a ride operator at Drayton Manor from March to August 2024. Concerns were first raised after a girl told her parent he had touched her inappropriately. CCTV review led to his arrest.

At Stafford Crown Court on Monday, Hammond admitted 19 counts of sexual assault. He was bailed and is due to be sentenced at the same court on 11 December.

Detective Inspector Vanessa Furnival, from the Staffordshire Police child protection team, praised the victims for their “immense courage” in coming forward. She also commended the “rapid response” from Drayton Manor staff, who immediately removed Hammond from duties.

A spokesperson for Drayton Manor said they were “appalled” by the incidents and stressed that visitor safety, particularly of children, was of “highest priority”. As soon as concerns were brought to their attention, Hammond was suspended and later dismissed. The park said reference checks, CCTV and in-person supervisor checks were all part of safeguarding processes.

Police have urged any parent or guardian who believes their child may have been a victim to come forward.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The case highlights potential gaps in safeguarding at family attractions, even where basic checks are in place.
  • The scale of offending (19 victims, all under 13) raises questions about how such conduct went undetected for months.
  • The outcome may encourage other victims or witnesses to report concerns about similar settings.

Background

Drayton Manor is a theme park in Staffordshire, England, popular with families. Ride operators have direct contact with children during loading and unloading of attractions. The park has since stated that it reviews its safeguarding procedures. The case is part of a broader pattern of offences in the UK entertainment industry, though specific statistics are not available from the source material.

Key Perspectives

Victims and families: They have shown “immense courage” in coming forward, according to police. The impact on victims and their families is acknowledged by both police and the park. Staffordshire Police: The force emphasised its child protection team’s swift response and urged any other potential victims to report. Drayton Manor: The park expressed being “appalled” and said it acted immediately, removing Hammond from duties and dismissing him. It stated that safeguarding processes including CCTV and checks were in place.

What to Watch

  • Hammond’s sentencing on 11 December 2026 at Stafford Crown Court.
  • Whether the case prompts a wider review of safeguarding at UK theme parks.
  • Any further victims who may come forward after the police appeal.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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