A mother and her paedophile boyfriend have been jailed for life for the murder of her two-year-old daughter, who was also sexually abused before her death. Isabelle Rose Welsh was found dead at the foot of the stairs at her home in Thornaby, Teesside, last September.
Details of the case
Prosecutor Richard Wright KC told Teesside Crown Court that Isabelle had been a happy, healthy child until her mother, Alexandra Walker, 25, began dating Harrison Simpson, 22, last summer. Walker searched Simpson on the sex offenders' register after growing suspicious about his behaviour, which included spending a lot of time with Isabelle and bathing her without permission. She called him a 'paedo' in messages to her mother and said it was 'weird' that he preferred to see her and Isabelle rather than spend time alone together. Despite these concerns, she continued to leave her daughter alone in his care.
Injuries and delayed response
Eleven days before the fatal injuries, Walker took Isabelle to hospital with a broken leg, which raised medics' suspicions. Walker had delayed seeking treatment for about two weeks. When Isabelle collapsed at home, Walker again delayed calling 999, despite Googling 'why would my toddler be bleeding' and smoking a cigarette in her kitchen. She first called her step-father, who instructed her to alert emergency services. Paramedics found Isabelle covered in bruises with blood in her nappy; she was not breathing and cold to the touch. She died in hospital the next day. A post-mortem revealed a fractured skull, brain damage, and evidence of sexual assault. Experts said Isabelle had been shaken and her head impacted against a wall or floor.
Sentencing
The judge, Ms Justice Norton, sentenced both to life imprisonment: Simpson to a minimum of 28 years, Walker to at least 22 years. Simpson was also convicted of sexual assault; Walker was cleared of that charge. Both were convicted of murder and child cruelty.
Kirstie Devine of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'The prosecution presented a raft of evidence including pathology reports, expert medical evidence, CCTV from the home, records of text messages and phone conversations that showed only the two adults who were regularly with Isabelle could have harmed her.' Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chatterton added: 'Isabelle suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of the very people who should have loved her, cared for her and protected her. Her life was cruelly taken in the most tragic and heart-breaking circumstances.'
