In 2026, a 30-year-old convicted sex offender was sentenced to immediate imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court after carrying out repeated acts of strangulation and physical violence against a partner he had met on Snapchat just four weeks prior.
Connor Helps, residing at Coral Avenue, Thatto Heath, St Helens, appeared before Recorder Eric Lamb for sentencing after changing his plea to guilty on the day his trial was listed to commence.
The prosecution, led by Gaby McGrath, outlined that the victim had met Helps via the social media app Snapchat and that he moved into her residence almost immediately. On 3 March 2026, following a visit to Rutland House veterinary practice in St Helens, an argument escalated between the pair. The victim told Helps not to follow her, yet when she arrived at her father’s property, Helps had already arrived.
After the victim returned to her own address, Helps followed her once more. During a violent confrontation inside the home, Helps grabbed and damaged the victim’s coat, pushed her, and punched and kicked her in the ribs, sending her to the ground. Helps then straddled the victim, pinned her wrists down, and struck her in the eye. As she attempted to resist, Helps placed both hands around her throat and squeezed with force for approximately 60 seconds, remarking: “If you really want me to be a pck, I will be a pck.” After the victim struck him to break his grip, Helps forced her hands against her own face, stating: “You can’t get me done for hitting yourself.”
Helps exited the property but returned a short time later under the premise of collecting his personal possessions. Upon being permitted entry, Helps launched a second assault, punching and kicking the woman to the floor, pinning her down, and strangling her again before fleeing. The victim suffered a black eye, extensive bruising, and soft-tissue injuries to her elbows.
The victim’s brother arrived and alerted Merseyside Police. Responding officers located Helps nearby, where he produced a piece of broken glass, inflicted a superficial cut to his own throat, and threatened officers. Constables discharged Tasers and deployed PAVA incapacitant spray to safely restrain and disarm him. A quantity of cannabis was recovered from his person during the arrest.
The court was informed that Helps has a history of violent and disruptive criminality, spanning 15 previous convictions for 27 offences, including harassment, breaches of restraining orders, aggravated vehicle taking, battery, and a 38-month prison term handed down in 2021 for sexual assault.
Helps entered formal guilty pleas to:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Possession of a Class B drug (cannabis)
- Failing to surrender to bail (arising from non-attendance at court on 2 April)
Passing sentence, Recorder Eric Lamb concluded that Helps posed a substantial risk of serious harm to others, imposing an immediate custodial sentence.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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