26-year-old school employee abuses autistic child in heinous ‘reign of abuse’

A school employee sexually abused an autistic child in a heinous act of “abuse.”

Acasia Welburn, now 26, was today sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after admitting three counts of sexual conduct with a child by a person of trust. A court heard she sexually abused a boy under the age of 16 at a school in North Yorkshire where she held a “trusted caring position”.

North Yorkshire Police said Welburn initially made contact with the boy via social media, exchanging sexual messages and images. This was followed by a shocking series of assaults as she regularly met the victim for sexual intercourse in her car and home.

But the victim showed “incredible courage” and eventually cooperated with the authorities. Welburn, who now lives in Telford, Shropshire, was caught and prosecuted.

Welburn appeared at York Crown Court today for sentencing after pleading guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing. After the verdict, Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police’s Sexual Abuse Team, said: “I cannot thank the victim enough for the incredible courage and determination she has shown.”

“This is another case that shows it is possible for victims to seek and receive justice. We would encourage anyone affected by a crime to contact the police. You will be supported and listened to.”

The case is similar to that of Rebecca Joynes, who was jailed earlier this month on six counts of sexual abuse – four counts of sexual abuse with a child and two counts of sexual abuse with a child by a person in a position of trust. She was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison after a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of the charges.

The court heard that Joynes had been in contact with two teenagers she met while teaching at a school in Greater Manchester. In a powerful victim impact statement read out in court, one victim described the physical and emotional toll Joynes’ abuse had taken on him.