Church Worker Jailed for Sex Abuse

Yorkshire Evening Post
June 28, 2013

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/church-worker-jailed-for-sex-abuse-1-5810256

Stuart Helm.

A church worker has been jailed for sexually abusing young boys.

Stuart Helm, 29, wept in the dock as he was handed a three-year sentence by a judge sitting at Leeds Crown Court.

Jailing Helm, Judge Guy Kearl, QC, said: “All your victims were vulnerable, some more vulnerable than others, and the sentence must be of immediate imprisonment.”

The court was told how after his arrest police found evidence that Helm had also been in contact with underage boys in America and had tried to get them to engage in sexual activity via a webcam. Helm, of Church Mount, Horsforth, pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual assault on a child under 13, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three of sexual activity with a child, three of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and three of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Robin Mairs, prosecuting, said Helm was able to gain access to three boys.

The court heard that many of the offences involved Helm pretending to be concerned about his victims’ health. He would later get them to remove their clothing before then touching their private parts.

One of his victims was subjected to assaults on many occasions and was told to keep the incidents a secret.

The court heard that the youngster has been left badly affected by what had happened to him and that he no longer felt safe. Mr Mairs said an element of grooming had been involved in the offences