Mother who killed toddler not seen as a risk because she was abuse victim

 Social workers failed to realise a mother who stamped her daughter to death posed a danger to the toddler because they were too concerned about her being a victim of domestic violence, a report has found.

Ayeeshia-jayne Smith was 21 months old when she was murdered by her mother Kathryn Smith, 23, in May 2014 during a “savage outburst” in the girl’s bedroom. Smith was jailed for at least 24 years in April last year, later reduced to 19 years. Her then partner, Matthew Rigby, 22, was jailed for three years and six months for causing or allowing Ayeeshia’s death.

Now a serious case review by the Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board has said professionals should have been more “inquisitive”. It said Kathryn Smith’s needs as a domestic violence victim had “overshadowed” the interests of her daughter.

Ayeeshia-jayne’s injuries – said to have been caused by a stamp – were likened to that of a car crash victim.

The report said all the agencies had been “inclined to take what (Smith) said at face value…the needs of (Smith) overshadowed the needs of (Ayeeshiajayne) frequently.” It concluded that Smith’s fatal actions “could not have been predicted” and “the case showed how difficult it is for agencies to retain a child-centred focus when the needs of a young parent facing domestic abuse continue to dominate”.