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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 will not face any criminal charges, despite a judge ruling he had sexually assaulted her before her death. The mother of Poppi Worthington, a 13-month-old who died after being found with serious injuries at her home, said she was “angry and disappointed” with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decision that the child’s father will not face any criminal charges.
Poppi Worthington was discovered at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on 12 December 2012. Poppi died in hospital in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on 12 December 2012. In a ruling made public in January, the high court family judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson concluded that she died from injuries caused by a sexual assault by her father, Paul Worthington, but prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”.
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 Crown Prosecution Service said it was reviewing the case. The CPS agreed to review the case, but, announcing its latest decision on Thursday, said it had examined the original file and reached the same conclusion.
Announcing its latest decision, the CPS said it had examined the original file and reached the same conclusion. A 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”. A 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”.
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. Speaking on behalf of Poppi’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, solicitor Fiona McGhie said: “This is obviously a very distressing time for Poppi’s mother and she is desperate to understand more about the police investigations and the events leading up to Poppi’s death.
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. “She is angry and disappointed with the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service and wishes to be given time and space at this difficult time as we approach the inquest.”
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. Worthington was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault at the time of Poppi’s death, but was never charged with any offence. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter.
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. Cumbria police referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2014, but the watchdog’s report has not yet been published. Jackson concluded that the police force had 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.
After the announcement of the CPS’s decision, the chief constable of Cumbria police, Jerry Graham, issued an apology to Poppi’s family. “I would like to make a full and heartfelt apology to Poppi’s family and all those who loved her,” he said. “Deficiencies in the initial police investigation contributed to the fact that, almost four years after her death, the cause still remains unascertained”.
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 owing to her mother’s own troubled upbringing.
In his ruling, Jackson concluded that, on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, Worthington had abused Poppi in the hours before she died. “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,” he said.
“Careful assessment of the meticulous pathological and paediatric evidence has clearly established that the injuries were the result of trauma from outside the body.”“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.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.
Fiona McGhie, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, representing Poppi’s mother, said on her behalf: “This is obviously a very distressing time for Poppi’s mother and she is desperate to understand more about the police investigations and the events leading up to Poppi’s death. An NSPCC spokesman said Poppi had been badly let down during her short life by those who should have been looking after her welfare. He said: “Nothing can change the circumstances which led to her tragic death, but justice cries out for someone to be brought to book for the terrible way she suffered.”
“She is angry and disappointed with the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service and wishes to be given time and space at this difficult time as we approach the inquest.”