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Poppi Worthington 'cried out' on night before her death, inquest hears Poppi Worthington cried out on night before her death, inquest hears
(about 2 hours later)
The mother of Poppi Worthington, a 13-month-old girl who died after being found with unexplained injuries at her home, has described how she heard her daughter cry out in the early hours of the morning before she died. The mother of Poppi Worthington, a 13-month-old girl who died after being found with unexplained injuries at her home, has said she was woken by her daughter crying out in the early hours of the morning she died.
Poppi died suddenly on 12 December 2012 after collapsing at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. In January 2016 it was revealed that a family court judge had ruled in 2014 that Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, 49, had probably sexually assaulted her.Poppi died suddenly on 12 December 2012 after collapsing at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. In January 2016 it was revealed that a family court judge had ruled in 2014 that Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, 49, had probably sexually assaulted her.
Worthington denies any involvement in his daughter’s death.Worthington denies any involvement in his daughter’s death.
On the first day of the second inquest into Poppi’s death, the court was played a recording of a panicked 10-minute phone call between Poppi’s mother and a 999 call handler shortly before 6am on the day of the baby’s death. On the first day of a second inquest into Poppi’s death, the court was played a recording of a panicked 10-minute phone call between Poppi’s mother and a 999 call handler shortly before 6am on the day of the baby’s death.
“She’s not breathing, she’s not breathing,” the mother can be heard shouting, as the operator gives her instructions to pass onto the child’s father so that he could perform CPR until paramedics arrived. “Ambulance please. My baby’s not breathing, she’s gone blue.” “She’s not breathing, she’s not breathing,” the mother can be heard shouting, as the operator gives her instructions to pass on to the child’s father so that he can perform CPR until paramedics arrive. “Ambulance please. My baby’s not breathing, she’s gone blue,” she says.
Poppi’s mother cannot be named for legal reasons. Speaking through tears, Poppi’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described hearing her daughter cry out early in the morning on the day she died, saying the noise was different from her normal cries. It was “louder – more of a scream”, she said.
In August 2013, Paul Worthington was arrested on suspicion of sexual assaulting Poppi, but was never charged. In July 2016 the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to charge him with any offence in relation to her death. After the cry she heard Worthington come downstairs, where she was sleeping, to get a new nappy. She was later woken again by Worthington calling for her to phone an ambulance as the little girl wasn’t breathing.
Paul Worthington was arrested in August 2013 on suspicion of sexual assaulting Poppi, but he was never charged. In July 2016 the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to charge him with any offence in relation to her death.
Cumbria police has apologised to Poppi’s family for “deficiencies in the initial police investigation”.Cumbria police has apologised to Poppi’s family for “deficiencies in the initial police investigation”.
In 2015, the high court quashed the first inquest’s verdict of unexplained death, ordering a fresh inquest. The second inquest, which started on Monday in Kendal, is expected to last for up to four weeks. In 2015 the high court quashed the first inquest’s verdict of unexplained death, ordering a fresh inquest. The second inquest, which started on Monday in Kendal, is expected to last up to four weeks.
David Roberts, the senior coroner for Cumbria, is expected to adjourn the proceedings over Christmas and new year before giving his formal conclusions on 15 January.David Roberts, the senior coroner for Cumbria, is expected to adjourn the proceedings over Christmas and new year before giving his formal conclusions on 15 January.
The inquest will hear evidence from 39 witnesses, including Paul Worthington, who will appear in person on Wednesday. His lawyers had argued unsuccessfully that he should be allowed to give evidence via videolink as he had received death threats. The inquest will hear evidence from 39 witnesses, including Paul Worthington, who will appear in person on Wednesday. His lawyers had argued unsuccessfully that he should be allowed to give evidence via videolink as he had received death threats after the allegations against him.
Speaking through tears, Poppi’s mother described hearing her daughter cry out in the early hours of the morning on the day she died, saying the noise was different to her normal cries. It was “louder – more of a scream,” she said. Poppi’s mother described how her daughter had been unwell in the days before she died, and on one occasion “threw herself back in her highchair and cried out” as if she had a bad stomach pain. Poppi then had severe diarrhoea that was described as being the colour of red brick.
She said she heard Worthington come downstairs, where she was sleeping, to get a new nappy. He then came downstairs again to say the little girl wasn’t breathing. The inquest heard that Worthington’s relationship with Poppi’s mother had been “up and down” and that he sometimes slept at the home of a friend. The court was read a statement given by the mother to the police before she became aware of the sexual assault allegations against her partner. In it she said Worthington was her best friend and his children were “his world”.
She described how the child had had a cold in the days before she died, and that on one occasion “threw herself back in her highchair and cried out” as if she had a bad stomach pain. Poppi also had severe diarrhoea that was described as being the colour of red brick. Giving evidence to the hearing on Monday, a paramedic, Nicola Lynn, said an ambulance was called to the family’s address at 5.56am. She said she found Poppi looking “pale and waxy” and not breathing. She said Paul Worthington was shell-shocked and asked her “she’s gone, isn’t she?” when they were in the back of the ambulance.
The court heard that Worthington’s relationship with Poppi’s mother had been “up and down” and that he sometimes slept at the home of a friend. Alison Hewitt, counsel to the inquest, told the court that a postmortem examination of Poppi revealed two fractures to one of her legs and that her anus was open.
Poppi was described by her mother as “very alive, bubbly – you knew she was there, there was no missing her”. She said that her daughter liked to be in charge and would always get up early, waking up her family. Poppi was confirmed dead at Furness general hospital around an hour later. Lynn said Poppi had blood and faeces on her bottom, and Worthington had told her that the child “had not been right for a couple of days” and had been suffering from constipation.
The baby’s character was described by her mother as “very alive, bubbly and funny. You knew she was there.” She said her daughter liked to be in charge and would always get up early, waking up her family.
In his 43-page ruling in 2014, Mr Justice Peter Jackson said the medical evidence pointed to “the injuries to [Poppi] as having been caused by penetrative trauma from outside the body”. The judgment could not be made public at that time in order to avoid prejudicing any future criminal trial.In his 43-page ruling in 2014, Mr Justice Peter Jackson said the medical evidence pointed to “the injuries to [Poppi] as having been caused by penetrative trauma from outside the body”. The judgment could not be made public at that time in order to avoid prejudicing any future criminal trial.
Jackson said Cumbria police had failed to conduct a “real investigation” for nine months following Poppi’s death. Jackson said Cumbria police had failed to conduct a “real investigation” for nine months after Poppi’s death.
In March 2017, the Independent Police Complaints Commission published its 2015 findings into the initial police investigation, criticising the “unstructured and disorganised” approach by senior detectives and stating that there were enough grounds to make an arrest on the day of Poppi’s death. In March 2017 the Independent Police Complaints Commission published its 2015 findings into the initial police investigation, criticising the “unstructured and disorganised” approach by senior detectives and stating that there had been enough grounds to make an arrest on the day of Poppi’s death.
Speaking before the first day of evidence on Monday, Fiona McGhie, representing the child’s mother, said: “Poppi’s mother hopes that the inquest, which has been much delayed over the last two years, can shed some light on Poppi’s final hours.”Speaking before the first day of evidence on Monday, Fiona McGhie, representing the child’s mother, said: “Poppi’s mother hopes that the inquest, which has been much delayed over the last two years, can shed some light on Poppi’s final hours.”