CHRISTOPHER HELMAN FROM CROOK JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN CUMBRIA

In October 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Christopher Helman, a man from Crook in South Cumbria, who was convicted of possessing and creating highly illegal and disturbing images of child abuse. The case came to light after authorities received a crucial tip-off from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection unit, prompting a detailed investigation into Helman's online activities.

Police traced an IP address associated with the illegal images to the Old John Peel Inn, a pub located in Bowness-on-Windermere, within the Lake District. At the time, Helman was registered as the landlord of this establishment, which added a layer of complexity to the case. The investigation revealed that Helman had stored a significant number of prohibited images on two separate hard drives, totaling approximately 1,270 pictures and videos. Among these, nearly half were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of illegal content. The court was informed that many of the children depicted in these images appeared to be infants, highlighting the heinous nature of the material.

Helman, who was 42 years old at the time, faced multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing such images. He admitted to these charges during the court proceedings. Despite his previous good character, the severity of the crimes led to a harsh sentence. Carlisle Crown Court sentenced Helman to a year in prison, with Judge James Adkin emphasizing the repulsive and shocking nature of the images. The judge described the material as “utterly repellent,” “shocking,” and “revolting,” underscoring the gravity of the offense.

Judge Adkin made it clear that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the case. He also ordered Helman to sign the sex offenders’ register for ten years and to comply with a strict sexual harm prevention order, which aims to prevent any future offending and protect the community from similar threats. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable children from such heinous crimes.