Poppi’s mother urges review after third court ruling that toddler was abused

The mother of Poppi Worthington has called for prosecutors to look again at her daughter’s case after a third court judgment that she was sexually assaulted before her death.

Yesterday, the senior coroner for Cumbria concluded the 13-monthold toddler was assaulted in her father’s double bed at the family home in Barrow-in-Furness in the early hours of December 12 2012.

The ruling on the balance of probabilities effectively mirrored two earlier fact-finding judgments by a High Court family judge in 2014 and 2016 that Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, 50, abused his daughter shortly before her death.

Coroner David Roberts ruled out penetration as the cause of death and said Poppi suffocated as she slept next to her father for a significant period of time in an “unsafe sleeping environment”.

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

In a narrative conclusion, Mr Roberts said Poppi was found to have stopped breathing shortly before 5.56am and had gone into cardiac arrest before she was pronounced dead more than an hour later at Furness General Hospital.

Mr Worthington only answered a handful of questions when he gave evidence at the inquest – exercising his right against potential selfincrimination – but he told previous hearings he moved Poppi from her cot into the main bedroom after she woke during the night while Poppi’s mother was asleep downstairs.

Mr Worthington has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offence following a bungled investigation by Cumbria Police in which vital evidence was not seized.

Following Mr Roberts’ conclusions the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there were no plans to review its charging decisions, although Cumbria Police Chief Constable Jerry Graham said the force would have discussions with the CPS to “determine possible courses of action”.

In a statement, Fiona McGhie, solicitor for Poppi’s mother – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – said: “My client hopes that the CPS will take another look at this case.”

Pictures: PA. Clockwise from left: Poppi Worthington, a court artist sketch of her father Paul Worthington giving evidence at the inquest and Mr Worthington outside Kendal County Hall in Cumbria.