THERE MUST BE JUSTICE FOR POPPI
She was sexually assaulted in father’s bed before she died
TODDLER Poppi Worthington was sexually abused in her father’s bed before suffocating to death, a coroner ruled yesterday.
Her heartbroken mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now demanding justice and is urging the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider pressing criminal charges.
In his damning ruling Coroner David Roberts said the “fit and active” 13- month- old died in an “unsafe sleeping environment” in her father Paul Worthington’s bed.
He also told the inquest in Kendal, Cumbria, that Worthington’s account of events did not “stand up to scrutiny”.
Fiona McGhee, the lawyer for Poppi’s mother, said after the inquest: “My client hopes the CPS will now take another look at this case. The past five years have been a complete nightmare for her.
“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.”
During the three- week hearing Worthington, from Barrow and who was not in court yesterday, refused to answer 252 questions about Poppi’s death on December 12, 2012.
Tears
However, the former Asda worker did describe his daughter as a “bully” and refused to explain how her DNA was on his private parts.
He also claimed on the night of her death he had gone to get Poppi a nappy and a few minutes later he reached over and found her limp.
He alleged he rushed downstairs where Poppi’s mother was sleeping and called an ambulance. Poppi was pronounced dead at Furness General Hospital shortly after.
Having heard contradictory evidence from medical experts, Mr Roberts said he believed Worthington had sexually assaulted his daughter.
But he concluded at the hearing, which saw Poppi’s mother walk out in tears, that sexual abuse did not cause her death. He gave a verdict of death by asphyxia.
It was the second inquest into Poppi’s death. It was ordered after the first hearing in 2014, which was held by a different coroner, ruled her death was “unexplained”.
In January 2016 – as part of family court proceedings – High Court judge Mr Justice Jackson revealed in his findings that Worthington “probably” sexually assaulted his daughter shortly before her death.
But police blunders after her death left CPS prosecutor Nazir Afzal unable to charge Worthington who has always denied sexual assault. Jerry Graham, Chief Constable of Cumbria Police, said yesterday: “We will be having early discussions with the CPS to determine possible courses of action.”
Poppi’s grandmother, from Dover, Kent, said after the hearing: “I think it’s absolutely disgusting the way the police and social services dealt with everything. They should be prosecuted for negligence.” Lawyers for Worthington, who is in witness protection, said: “He is considering his options following the coroner’s conclusion.”
A CPS spokesman said: “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.”
ACORONER has finally ruled that Poppi Worthington, the toddler who died in 2012, was sexually abused by her father. This was the second inquest into the little girl’s death and this hearing was told that an investigation by Cumbria Police was so badly handled that crucial evidence was lost. Paul Worthington, her father, has never been charged and it looks extremely unlikely that he will ever face prosecution.
The police and the Crown Prosecution Service have not covered themselves in glory. It is appalling that nobody will be called to answer for this poor child’s death after almost six years.