HELEN STARK FROM LESMAHAGOW SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ATTACK ON BOY IN KILWINNING, AYRSHIRE
| Red Rose Database
Lesmahagow Sexual Abuser
In September 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Helen Stark, a woman from Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, who was convicted of inflicting severe injuries on an eight-year-old boy. The incident took place in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, where Stark’s violent assault left the young boy with injuries that would shock anyone familiar with child abuse cases.
According to reports, Stark was arrested after a vigilant neighbor, who was observing through a window, noticed signs of abuse. The neighbor’s concern prompted police to respond swiftly to the scene. Stark initially attempted to dismiss the neighbor’s observations, claiming she was merely trying to prevent the boy from smashing bottles of juice onto the floor. Her explanation was met with skepticism by authorities.
When law enforcement officers arrived at the residence, Stark appeared surprisingly composed. She told the officers that she was expecting a window cleaner and insisted that the injuries sustained by the boy were accidental. However, medical examinations painted a very different picture. Doctors found injuries that were “highly suggestive of non-accidental injury,” including extensive bruising on the boy’s head, neck, back, and arms, along with swelling, scratches, and cuts. These injuries indicated a pattern of repeated violence rather than an accident.
Stark, who was in custody, admitted to assaulting the boy. The court heard that she had repeatedly struck him on the head and body with her hands. She also presented a knife, holding it against the boy and puncturing his skin. Further, Stark was accused of grabbing the child by the hair, threatening him with violence, and repeatedly striking his head against a door and window sill, which resulted in significant injuries.
Part of the original charge included allegations that Stark, who was caring for the boy at the time in August 2015, had attacked him so severely that his life was at risk. However, this particular charge was later deleted during proceedings. Stark also faced a charge of attempting to defeat justice by threatening the boy, warning him that he would face more violence unless he provided false explanations for his numerous injuries. This plea was accepted by the court.
She was cleared of other charges, including wilful neglect and exposing the boy to suffering by repeatedly refusing to seek medical treatment for his injuries. During her plea, her defense lawyer, Jennifer Bain, highlighted Stark’s mental health issues, including a possible bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a history of medication for eight years. Bain also mentioned Stark’s fear of imprisonment, citing a traumatic incident in prison where a fellow inmate set fire to herself in her cell.
Despite her mental health disclosures, Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane ordered background reports and released Stark on bail. The sheriff expressed her disapproval of Stark’s claims of distress over her prison experience, stating, “I find it galling to be told you were distressed by the incident in prison and yet you were not distressed by the injuries you caused to an eight-year-old boy.”
When Stark appeared again in court, the sheriff determined that the only appropriate sentence was incarceration. Consequently, she was sentenced to 15 months in prison for her actions, reflecting the severity of the crime and the need for justice in this disturbing case from Lesmahagow and Kilwinning.
According to reports, Stark was arrested after a vigilant neighbor, who was observing through a window, noticed signs of abuse. The neighbor’s concern prompted police to respond swiftly to the scene. Stark initially attempted to dismiss the neighbor’s observations, claiming she was merely trying to prevent the boy from smashing bottles of juice onto the floor. Her explanation was met with skepticism by authorities.
When law enforcement officers arrived at the residence, Stark appeared surprisingly composed. She told the officers that she was expecting a window cleaner and insisted that the injuries sustained by the boy were accidental. However, medical examinations painted a very different picture. Doctors found injuries that were “highly suggestive of non-accidental injury,” including extensive bruising on the boy’s head, neck, back, and arms, along with swelling, scratches, and cuts. These injuries indicated a pattern of repeated violence rather than an accident.
Stark, who was in custody, admitted to assaulting the boy. The court heard that she had repeatedly struck him on the head and body with her hands. She also presented a knife, holding it against the boy and puncturing his skin. Further, Stark was accused of grabbing the child by the hair, threatening him with violence, and repeatedly striking his head against a door and window sill, which resulted in significant injuries.
Part of the original charge included allegations that Stark, who was caring for the boy at the time in August 2015, had attacked him so severely that his life was at risk. However, this particular charge was later deleted during proceedings. Stark also faced a charge of attempting to defeat justice by threatening the boy, warning him that he would face more violence unless he provided false explanations for his numerous injuries. This plea was accepted by the court.
She was cleared of other charges, including wilful neglect and exposing the boy to suffering by repeatedly refusing to seek medical treatment for his injuries. During her plea, her defense lawyer, Jennifer Bain, highlighted Stark’s mental health issues, including a possible bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a history of medication for eight years. Bain also mentioned Stark’s fear of imprisonment, citing a traumatic incident in prison where a fellow inmate set fire to herself in her cell.
Despite her mental health disclosures, Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane ordered background reports and released Stark on bail. The sheriff expressed her disapproval of Stark’s claims of distress over her prison experience, stating, “I find it galling to be told you were distressed by the incident in prison and yet you were not distressed by the injuries you caused to an eight-year-old boy.”
When Stark appeared again in court, the sheriff determined that the only appropriate sentence was incarceration. Consequently, she was sentenced to 15 months in prison for her actions, reflecting the severity of the crime and the need for justice in this disturbing case from Lesmahagow and Kilwinning.