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Poppi Worthington's father will not face charges over her death Poppi Worthington's father will not face charges over her death
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The father of a 13-month-old girl who died after she was found with serious injuries at her home will not face any criminal charges, despite a judge ruling he had sexually assaulted her before her death. The father of a 13-month-old girl who died after she was found with serious injuries will not face any criminal charges, despite a judge ruling he had sexually assaulted her before her death.
Poppi Worthington died after she was found with serious injuries at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on 12 December 2012. Poppi Worthington was discovered at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on 12 December 2012.
In January, the high court family judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson concluded that the child died from injuries caused by being sexually assaulted by her father, Paul Worthington, but prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”. In January, the CPS said it was reviewing the case.In January, the high court family judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson concluded that the child died from injuries caused by being sexually assaulted by her father, Paul Worthington, but prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”. In January, the CPS said it was reviewing the case.
Announcing its latest decision, a spokesperson for the CPS said they had examined the original file and reached the same conclusion. The spokesperson said it was not the CPS’s function “to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the criminal (courts) to consider”. Announcing its latest decision, a spokesperson for the CPS said it had examined the original file and reached the same conclusion. The spokesperson said it was not the CPS’s function “to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the criminal (courts) to consider”.
Paul Worthington was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault at the time but was never charged with any offence. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter. Worthington was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault at the time but was never charged with any offence. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter.
Cumbria police referred itself to the police watchdog in 2014. Jackson later concluded that they carried out “no real investigation” into the death of the toddler for nine months and highlighted a list of basic errors in evidence-gathering – including not securing the scene, failing to take vital items for forensic analysis and a senior detective not visiting the family home.Cumbria police referred itself to the police watchdog in 2014. Jackson later concluded that they carried out “no real investigation” into the death of the toddler for nine months and highlighted a list of basic errors in evidence-gathering – including not securing the scene, failing to take vital items for forensic analysis and a senior detective not visiting the family home.
Last month a serious case review found that six official agencies – including health workers, midwives and child-safeguarding experts – missed significant indicators that Poppi may have been at risk due to her mother’s own troubled upbringing. Last month, a serious case review found that six official agencies – including health workers, midwives and child-safeguarding experts – missed significant indicators that Poppi may have been at risk due to her mother’s own troubled upbringing.
In his ruling in January, Jackson concluded: “Shorn to its essentials, the situation is one in which a healthy child with no medical condition or illness was put to bed by her mother one evening and brought downstairs eight hours later by her father in a lifeless state and with troubling injuries.
“Careful assessment of the meticulous pathological and paediatric evidence has clearly established that the injuries were the result of trauma from outside the body.”
Poppi was buried in February 2013, precluding a further postmortem, after her body was released by the local coroner. There is now said to be an absence of evidence to definitively prove if or how she was injured, or how she died.