Poppi Worthington inquest: Toddler suffered injuries caused by sexual assault, coroner rules

Coroner says toddler’s death was caused by ‘her ability to breathe being compromised by an unsafe sleeping environment’

The mother of a toddler who died after suffering a serious sexual assault has called for her father to face criminal charges.

Poppi Worthington died in 2012 after being found unresponsive in her father’s bed.

An original seven-minute inquest that declared Poppi’s death unexplained was later quashed as “irregular” by the High Court, but a botched police investigation lost vital evidence.

A second inquest held in Kendal, Cumbria, heard that the 13-month-old was heard screaming at her family home in Barrow-in-Furness on 12 December.

Her father, Paul Worthington, said he put her in his bed and went to get a fresh nappy, but reached over minutes later to find she was limp.

Mr Worthington rushed downstairs and Poppi’s mother, who had been sleeping on the sofa, called an ambulance.

Paramedics took her to Furness General Hospital at 6.11am but she never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead shortly after 7am.

Mr Worthington appeared before the inquest to give evidence but used a rule meaning that inquest witnesses are not obliged to answer incriminating questions 252 times.

He described his daughter as a “bully” at a previous hearing and would not explain how her DNA came to be on his penis, refusing to recount the hours leading up to Poppi’s death.

“I refer to my previous statements under Rule 22,” the 49-year-old repeated.

David Roberts, HM senior coroner for Cumbria, said Mr Worthington’s account did not “stand up to scrutiny”.

“Only Paul Worthington can provide an account of what happened upstairs between about 2.30am and 5.56am,” he said.

“It was difficult to assess his overall demeanour and honesty. In the circumstances I conclude I could not form any reliable view as to his honesty.”

A sketch of Poppi Worthington’s father giving evidence at Kendal County Hall in Cumbria (PA)

Lawyers representing Poppi’s mother said she was relieved to have some answers about what happened to her daughter after a “nightmare” five years.

Fiona McGhie, of Irwin Mitchell, said: “Not knowing what happened to Poppi on that day, and knowing that there were evidence-gathering failures by the police in the very early stages of the investigation, has made things even worse.

“She is disappointed that Poppi’s father chose to rely on his right not to answer questions which may incriminate him... my client hopes that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will take another look at this case.

“She is grateful to the coroner for his thoroughness throughout the inquest and she is relieved that despite there being some gaps she is now closer to the truth, even though that truth is devastating.”

The coroner recorded a narrative verdict after telling the inquest that the option of “unlawful killing” was not available to him because of a lack of evidence indicating murder or manslaughter.

Mr Roberts ruled that, at some point after 2.30am on 12 December 2012, Poppi was taken from her cot and sexually assaulted, although it was not the cause of her death.

The double bed where Poppi Worthington was placed at the time of her collapse on 12 December 2012 (PA)

The toddler, who was suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection at the time, later died from asphyxia.

Mr Roberts told the inquest her ability to breathe was compromised by an “unsafe sleeping environment” after her father took her from her cot and placed her next to him in his double bed.

“Poppi was in such a position that her breathing was compromised, either due to the position of the bedclothes, her position within the bed or overlaying, or a combination of all three,” he concluded.

“Her viral infection would, in all probability, also have compromised her ability to breathe freely.

“In any event, when father awoke he discovered that Poppi was no longer breathing and, shortly before 5.56am, he took her downstairs in an unresponsive state. I find that, in fact, she was dead at that point.”

Mr Worthington has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offence because the CPS says there is insufficient evidence.

A spokesperson for the CPS said it was aware of Monday’s verdict but added: “There are no plans to review our charging decisions in relation to this case but we would of course consider any referral from the coroner.’’

Cumbria Police lost vital evidence and failed to interview witnesses for several months, meaning there is no forensic way of telling what happened to the child.

In an investigation that concluded last year, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said senior detectives were “unstructured and disorganised”, highlighting the lengthy delay into a criminal investigation taking place “despite there being significant suspicious circumstances from the outset’”.

Jerry Graham, the Chief Constable of Cumbria Police, said: “I will consider the detail of the coroner’s conclusion and his comments today, and we will be having early discussions with the CPS in order to determine possible courses of action.”

Lawyers for Poppi’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and Mr Worthington both entered submissions saying there was not enough evidence for the coroner to conclude the toddler was unlawfully killed.

But Gillian Irving QC, representing Poppi’s mother, argued there was “clear evidence” that she was subjected to assault.

Claiming the evidence of Dr Armour was “tainted” and “unsafe”, Mr Worthington’s representative Leslie Thomas QC said an open verdict was appropriate as there was not enough evidence to reach any other conclusion.

In a statement, his lawyers added: “Mr Worthington is considering his options following the coroner’s conclusion today and we are advising him not to say anything further at this point.”

Additional reporting by PA