STEWARD PLAATSMAN FROM HOLMFIRTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN LEEDS AND HUDDERSFIELD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities, Stewart Plaatsman, a man originally from Holmfirth, has been convicted and sentenced for heinous sexual offenses involving a young boy. The crimes came to light in 2010, but the full extent of his actions only emerged after the victim disclosed further abuse this year.

According to court reports, Plaatsman, who was 39 years old at the time of his sentencing, committed the abuse in December 2009. The young victim, a three-year-old boy whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was subjected to sexual assault by Plaatsman in a manner described by the judge as depraved and wicked. The details of the abuse are particularly distressing, as the child was manipulated into silence by Plaatsman, who pressured him not to tell anyone about what had happened, warning that his parents would be angry if he revealed the secret.

At the time of the offenses, Plaatsman was employed as a janitor by the Huddersfield and Calderdale NHS Foundation Trust. However, the court clarified that his criminal activities were not connected to his professional duties. The case was brought to light after the young boy disclosed additional incidents of sexual activity involving Plaatsman, which led to a police investigation.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Plaatsman had pleaded guilty to charges of raping a child under 13 and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. When confronted with the allegations, he admitted guilt, stating simply, “I’m guilty of it. I don’t know why I did it.”

Remarkably, Plaatsman had no prior criminal record, and his defense lawyer, Edward Renvoize, described him as a well-liked and respected member of the community, despite the gravity of his crimes. Mr. Renvoize acknowledged that the young age of the victim was an aggravating factor but emphasized that Plaatsman had shown remorse by early admissions to police and the victim’s family. He also noted that Plaatsman was a loner, and his offending appeared to stem from unusual personal circumstances.

Judge Peter Hunt delivered a stern judgment, condemning Plaatsman’s actions as profoundly depraved. He highlighted that the defendant’s guilty pleas indicated he had engaged in serious sexual misconduct on two separate occasions with the young boy. The judge expressed concern that the psychological impact on the victim would be long-lasting, especially considering Plaatsman’s manipulation and threats to silence the child.

In addition to the six-year prison sentence, Judge Hunt imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which restricts Plaatsman’s unsupervised contact with children under 16. He was also banned from working with children in any capacity in the future. Furthermore, Plaatsman is required to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life.

Since his release, Plaatsman has been residing in the Leeds area, having previously been held at a bail hostel in Dewsbury. His case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in the community, especially concerning individuals who may pose a risk to vulnerable children.