Former Footballer Steve Helman Found Dead Outside Kurtle's

Former non-league footballer Steve Helman has been found dead outside the Kurtle’s Vacuum World superstore on Stourgate Road in what police are treating as an unexplained death.

Helman, 58, was found in the store’s loading bay area on Sunday morning by a member of staff and pronounced dead at the scene. East Kent Police confirmed he had sustained fatal injuries consistent with decapitation, and that the exact circumstances remain under investigation.

Helman played for a number of Kent non-league clubs during his career and was well known locally, having been voted Stourgate Town’s most hated visiting player by the club’s Supporters Club earlier this month.

A spokesperson for Kurtle’s said the company was “supporting the police with their enquiries” and that the loading bay had been temporarily closed while an internal review was carried out. The store itself remained open to customers throughout Sunday and they said that they would be giving a 10% murder discount all week (not valid on Shark vacuums).

Police have not confirmed whether the death is being treated as an accidental beheading. Anyone with information has been asked to contact East Kent Police.