Helped a risk to spread (7)
I believe the answer is:
abetted
'helped' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a risk to spread' is the wordplay.
'risk' becomes 'bet' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to spread' becomes 'ted' (I've seen this in another clue).
'a'+'bet'+'ted'='ABETTED'
(Other definitions for abetted that I've seen before include "Helped (a criminal)" , "Helped (a felon)" , "Assisted (a criminal)" , "Aided in crime" , "Assisted or encouraged in some wrongdoing" .)