Toddler Poppi Worthington was sexaully abused before her death says coroner

Toddler Poppi Worthington was sexually abused before her death, a coroner has ruled.

The “fit and active” 13-month-old was in an “unsafe” sleeping environment and suffered injuries to her bottom caused by penetration, Cumbria’s senior coroner David Roberts said.

Mr Roberts gave his conclusions on Monday following a three-week inquest before Christmas at which Poppi’s father Paul Worthington refused to answer questions about her death 252 times.

The coroner said Worthington’s account did not “stand up to scrutiny”.

The otherwise healthy youngster woke up screaming at about 5.30am on December 12, 2012, at the family home in Barrow-in-Furness and her father put her in his bed and went to get a fresh nappy, the inquest at Kendal Coroner’s Court had heard.

He claimed that when he returned, she had settled but five or 10 minutes later he reached over and she was limp.

He claimed he then rushed downstairs and the child’s mother, who was sleeping downstairs, called an ambulance.

Paramedics carried out a “scoop and run”, delivering the apparently lifeless girl to Furness General Hospital at 6.11am but she never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead shortly after 7am.

Medics noted she was bleeding from her bottom.

In January 2016 – as part of family court proceedings involving Poppi’s siblings – a judge revealed his findings that Worthington probably sexually assaulted his daughter by anal penetration shortly before her death.

Worthington has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offence as the Crown Prosecution Service say there is insufficient evidence.

He has been living in hiding since the family court proceedings were made public.

Mr Roberts said a conclusion of unlawful killing was not available to him as he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Poppi died from an act of murder or manslaughter.

Although satisfied that she was penetrated before her death, he concluded she did not die immediately afterwards and that penetration did not cause her death.

He said the cause of death was asphyxia as he explained her ability to breathe was compromised by an “unsafe sleeping environment” after her father had taken Poppi from her cot and placed her next to him in his double bed.

Mr Roberts said Poppi, who at the time was suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection, died from asphyxia.

He said the child was taken from her cot and put in Paul Worthington’s double bed, where she was anally penetrated.

Sleeping in the bed with her father and because of the infection her ability to breath was compromised, he said.

Mr Roberts concluded: “The deceased died as a result of her ability to breathe being compromised by an unsafe sleeping environment.”

Poppi’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, looked red-eyed and close to tears for much of today’s three hour hearing.

Sat alongside her legal team, she left court twice, the first time during graphic medical evidence about her daughter, and a second time, after the coroner reached the point where he ruled Poppi had probably been anally penetrated before her death.

The inquest heard that an investigation by Cumbria Police was so botched that vital evidence was lost, so exactly what happened to Poppi will never be known and no-one will be charged with any offence over her death.

Worthington refused to answer questions about his daughter’s death, exercising his legal right not to incriminate himself, during two days giving evidence.

He described his daughter as a “bully” but would not explain how her DNA came to be on his penis and refused to answer questions 252 times.

Mr Roberts said: “As a result 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 based on his performance in the witness box.”

Worthington, under Rule 22 of the Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013, was not obliged to answer any questions tending to incriminate him.

The former supermarket nightshift worker repeatedly replied with the same stock answer: “I refer to my previous statements under Rule 22.”

During one exchange, Kate Stone, representing the mother, asked him: ”Why did you hurt your daughter, Mr Worthington?”

The witness shook his head and gave the stock reply he had used before.

He has never been charged with any offence and denies any wrongdoing.

The inquest heard Poppi’s mother was asleep downstairs when she heard the child scream, then floorboards creaking, which she assumed was Worthington attending to her.

Mr Roberts ruled at some point after 2.30am on December 12, 2012, Poppi was taken from her cot and sexually assaulted before her death.

He said later Worthington rushed downstairs holding his lifeless daughter, shouting to his ex-partner to call for an ambulance, but she was already dead.

The second inquest into Poppi’s death was ordered after the controversial first hearing – held by a different coroner – was shrouded in secrecy and lasted just seven minutes.

Poppi was listed as ”a child aged 13 months” at the first inquest in 2014 and her death was declared as unexplained.

In a fact-finding judgment as part of care proceedings involving Poppi’s siblings, family court judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson, now Lord Justice Peter Jackson, said Poppi’s ”significant bleeding” within 15 minutes of the 999 call made from the family home could only be explained sensibly as the result of penetrative trauma.

In a statement, Mr Worthington’s lawyers, Farley Solicitors, said: “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.”

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