A 24-year-old theme park ride operator has admitted sexually assaulting 19 young girls while working at Drayton Manor in Staffordshire.
Josef Luke Hammond, of Birmingham, appeared at Stafford Crown Court on Monday 12 October 2026, where he formally entered guilty pleas to 19 counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13 by touching.
The court was told that Hammond worked at the Tamworth attraction between March and August 2024. His criminal conduct was exposed after a child disclosed to her parent that Hammond had subjected her to inappropriate physical contact while she visited the park.
Upon receiving the complaint, park management reviewed on-site CCTV recordings. The footage corroborated the report, prompting staff to stand Hammond down immediately and alert law enforcement. Officers from Staffordshire Police attended and arrested Hammond later that afternoon.
An intensive investigation by safeguarding detectives established an overwhelming body of evidence showing that what began as a single report had uncovered a series of offences against 19 young female victims.
Under the provisions of Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all child victims and complainants connected to criminal proceedings are protected by automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, educational facilities, or photographs capable of leading to public identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Hammond pleaded guilty to:
19 counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 by touching
Following the entry of his guilty pleas, the Crown Court judge granted Hammond conditional bail. He is scheduled to return to Stafford Crown Court on 11 December 2026 to be sentenced.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Database Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.