Now put him in the dock! Poppi Worthington's mother pleads for toddler's father to be prosecuted as coroner finds he DID sexually abuse their child before she suffocated in his bed

Senior coroner said 'fit and active' girl was in an 'unsafe' sleeping environment 

Poppi's mother is 'disappointed that girl's father chose not to answer questions'

Father Paul Worthington 'probably sexually assaulted' her, judge previously said

Poppi died in 2012 after collapsing at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria

Poppi Worthington's mother has pleaded with prosecutors to re-examine her daughter's death after an inquest ruled she had been sexually abused by her father in his bed.

It was the third court judgment to conclude that the 13-month-old had been subjected to a brutal assault hours before her death in 2012.

In 2014, Mr Justice Jackson ruled in a family hearing that Poppi had probably been assaulted by father Paul Worthington, coming to the same conclusion at appeal in 2016.

On Monday, at the second inquest into Poppi's death, a coroner ruled she had been sexually assaulted in her father's bed in the hours before she died from suffocation due to an 'unsafe sleeping environment'.

As the verdict was read out, Poppi's mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fled the courtroom in tears and now hopes the CPS will take another look at the case. 

Senior coroner David Roberts said Worthington's account of the morning of his daughter's death did not 'stand up to scrutiny' and only the father could provide an account of 'what happened upstairs' at the home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

After a series of police blunders, the 49-year-old has never been charged with an offence.

Poppi Worthington woke up screaming at about 5.30am in 2012 at the family home

Outside court yesterday, a lawyer for Poppi's mother called on the Crown Prosecution Service to review the case – and criticised the way Worthington had used coroner's rules to avoid answering questions at the inquest. 

Fiona McGhie, of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, said: 'The past five years have been a complete nightmare for her. She is now closer to the truth, even though that truth is devastating.'

The CPS insisted there was nothing it could do and said there were 'no plans' to review the case. Prosecutors previously said police errors meant there was not enough evidence to charge Worthington.

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

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

Paul Worthington (pictured left in August 2014 at Liverpool Civil and Family Court; and right at Kendal County Hall in Cumbria last November) probably sexually assaulted Poppi before she collapsed at home, according to a previous ruling

Poppi's mother also slammed the toddler's father for remaining silent and Cumbria Police apologised to her for the force's failings.

They added that officers would now look at 'possible courses of action' with lawyers following the coroner's findings. 

Meanwhile, John Woodcock, the Labour MP for Barrow-in-Furness, also called on the Home Secretary to expose 'all that is rotten in the system' and wants a public inquiry to look into the 'grotesque failing' by police.

He said: 'This is the verdict we all feared - Poppi was probably assaulted by her father before she died. 

'That little girl will probably never get justice because of grotesque failings into the police investigation into her death but we owe it to her to campaign for a public inquiry that can expose all that is rotten in the system that has led us to this terrible day.'

Last night Nazir Afzal, former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, was among those to call for a rethink. 

He said: 'That they have said flat-out 'no' does seem a premature assessment.' 

'Disappointment' of Poppi's mother at her father staying silent 

Fiona McGhee, from solicitors Irwin Mitchell, representing Poppi's mother, said today: 'She is disappointed that Poppi's father chose to rely on his right not to answer questions which might incriminate him.

'While she understands he is entitled to do this, she considers he should have given the coroner the crucial evidence of Poppi's last few hours.

'This is now the third time that a court has found on the balance of probabilities that Poppi was anally penetrated prior to death and my client hopes that the CPS will now take another look at this case.

'She is grateful to the coroner for the thoroughness throughout the inquest and she is relieved that despite the gaps in the evidence she is now closer to the truth, however devastating that truth might be.'

The coroner gave his damning verdict following a three-week inquest before Christmas at which Poppi's father refused to answer questions about her death 252 times.  

Giving evidence, Worthington had refused to explain how Poppi's DNA came to be on his penis.

He was not present in court on Monday but his sister Tracy Worthington said afterwards he felt 'like a lamb led to the slaughter' and was consulting his lawyers for his next move.

Poppi was a 'fit and active' baby living with her siblings and parents, who had an on-off relationship, the inquest heard. 

But on December 12, 2012, she was rushed to hospital at 5.56am, when her father found her unresponsive lying next to him. She died just over an hour later.

The cot where 13-month-old toddler Poppi Worthington slept on December 11 and 12, 2012 +19
The cot where 13-month-old toddler Poppi Worthington slept on December 11 and 12, 2012

Poppi's cot: The girl was heard to scream before her father put her in his bed with him +19
Poppi's cot: The girl was heard to scream before her father put her in his bed with him

The double bed where Poppi was placed at the time of her collapse in December 2012 +19
The double bed where Poppi was placed at the time of her collapse in December 2012

Investigators failed to secure the family home and did not collect key evidence including the bed sheets Poppi was taken to hospital on and the computer on which Worthington watched pornography the night before her death. 

Though a pathologist warned that Poppi may have been sexually assaulted, police did not order forensic tests of samples from her body.

Worthington was not arrested until August 2013, and no charges were brought. 

A pink vest taken from 13-month-old Poppi Worthington at Furness General Hospital on December 12, 2012, the day that she died +19
A pink vest taken from 13-month-old Poppi Worthington at Furness General Hospital on December 12, 2012, the day that she died

In March 2014, he tried to win custody of Poppi's siblings in the family division of the High Court, but Mr Justice Jackson ruled he had probably abused his daughter before her death.

He also came to the same conclusion ruling on an appeal from Worthington, who contested the medical findings in the first hearing, in January 2016.

The first inquest into Poppi's death, which lasted just seven minutes and ruled that her death was 'unexplained', was quashed and Mr Roberts opened the second hearing last March.

On Monday, more than five years after Poppi's death, the inquest concluded with the finding that – on the balance of probabilities – she had been sexually assaulted before her death by her father.

The coroner said there had been significant police failings but he could not speculate on what the evidence that had not been collected might reveal. 

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 he ruled she was brutally assaulted, he found that was not the cause of death. He said the cause of death was asphyxia, with Poppi's ability to breathe compromised when Worthington took her from her cot and put her next to him in his double bed.


The sofa on the ground floor of the home where Poppi was resuscitated on December 12, 2012

David Roberts, HM senior coroner for Cumbria, arrives at County Hall, Kendal today (left). The post-mortem 

examination findings of pathologist Dr Alison Armour (right, pictured last year) were hotly disputed

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

Her mother was sat alongside her legal team and 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 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. 

Poppi's MP says toddler will never get justice as he urges inquiry into police 

John Woodcock, the Labour MP for Barrow-in-Furness, calle

d on the Home Secretary to expose 'all that is rotten in the systemPoppi Worthington will never get justice, said her family's local MP who called for a public inquiry into the 'grotesque failing' by police.

John Woodcock, the Labour MP for Barrow-in-Furness, called on the Home Secretary to expose 'all that is rotten in the system'.

Cumbria Police's chief constable, Jeremy Graham, again apologised to Poppi's family for the force's failings, but said police would now look at 'possible courses of action' with lawyers following the coroner's findings.

The MP said: 'This is the verdict we all feared - Poppi was probably assaulted by her father before she died.

'That little girl will probably never get justice because of grotesque failings into the police investigation into her death but we owe it to her to campaign for a public inquiry that can expose all that is rotten in the system that has led us to this terrible day.'

Lead detective on the police inquiry, Detective Inspector Amanda Sadler, a former Miss Great Britain, was subjected to a disciplinary hearing last year where gross incompetency was proven and she was demoted in rank.

She has since retired along with her boss, former Detective Chief Inspector Mike Forrester. No further action was taken against either of the former officers.

In 2015, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) concluded that both Mrs Sadler and Mr Forrester had cases to answer for gross misconduct.

Mr Woodcock said: 'It is hard to overstate our community's anger at seeing an officer found responsible for gross incompetence able to keep a job in the force before retiring. This is not accountability.'

He said a public inquiry should look at preventing negligent officers from retiring to escape scrutiny and the decision by Cumbria Police to offer an officer found guilty of gross incompetence an alternative senior role in the force rather than dismissal.

He added: 'Police officers work so hard to keep our community safe but they need leaders now who are prepared to recognise the damage that has been done by this tragedy and campaign for real change to restore public confidence.'

Mr Graham said the inquest detailing the catalogue of failures by officers had been 'uncomfortable listening'.

He added: 'I will consider the detail of the coroner's conclusion and his comments today and we will be having an early discussion with the Crown Prosecution Service in order to determine possible courses of action.'

'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.    

In March 2014, High Court family judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson - now Lord Justice Peter Jackson - ruled Mr Worthington probably sexually assaulted his daughter before her death, and arrived at the same conclusion in January 2016 following a review of the medical evidence.

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 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.' 

The inquest had heard 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.

He claimed that when he returned, she had settled but five or ten 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.   

Forensic faults, no reconstruction and not analysing phones: 12 basic errors in the initial police probe

A dozen police findings outlined by High Court judge Mr Justice Jackson:

1) Items at the hospital Poppi was taken to were not preserved for forensic analysis

2) Items at the family home were not preserved for forensic analysis

3) The scene at the family home was not secured, with Poppi's last nappy being lost despite the presence of police officers

4) The detective inspector and another officer not visiting the home. According to national protocol, a senior officer should immediately attend the home to take charge of the investigation and ensure that evidence is intelligently preserved

5) No reconstruction with the parents at home so that their accounts could be understood and investigations focused

6) No forensic medical examination at the time of death. Swabs were not taken until post-mortem despite delays meaning forensic analysis can be prejudiced

7) No engagement of a paediatrician with specialist knowledge of investigating sexual abuse for there to be a physical examination of the child, a viewing of the home and a report for the pathologist

8) Dr Armour's initial views were not clearly passed on to the local authority for safeguarding purposes

9) The parents were not formally interviewed until August 2013

10) Neither parent's mobile telephone or Facebook accounts were analysed

11) Samples were not sent for analysis until after receipt of Dr Armour's full report

12) No statements taken from any witnesses (paramedics, nurses, doctors, family members) until September 2013.

Chief Constable of Cumbria Police Jeremy Graham speaks to the media outside the County Hall in Kendal this afternoon. He said would like to 'reinforce' a 'heartfelt apology again today'

Fiona McGhie, the solicitor representing the mother of Poppi Worthington, said today on her behalf that the past five years 'have been a complete nightmare for her'

What happens next? Police say they will speak to prosecutors

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.

However, Jerry Graham, Chief Constable of Cumbria Police, said he would 'consider the detail of the coroner's conclusion and his comments today'.

He added that the force 'we will be having early discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service in order to determine possible courses of action'.

A CPS spokesman said: 'We are aware of today's verdict. 

'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.'

This unmarked grave is the final resting place of Poppi near her home in Barrow-in-Furness

The toddler's controversial first inquest was quashed by the High Court and deemed 'irregular' after it lasted just seven minutes and did not refer to Poppi by name as her death was declared as unexplained.

Before the Christmas break, a more in-depth examination of the circumstances took place as three weeks of evidence was heard at County Hall, Kendal. 

Mr Worthington, who is in hiding and under witness protection paid for by the taxpayer, did not attend the hearing today.

In January 2016 - as part of family court proceedings involving Poppi's siblings - a judge revealed his findings that Mr Worthington probably sexually assaulted his daughter shortly before her death.

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

Coming out of hiding to give evidence in Kendal, the former Asda supermarket worker refused to answer 252 questions as he exercised his legal right to not say anything which may incriminate himself.

An array of expert medical witnesses also entered the witness box as the inquest was told Poppi's cause of death remains 'unascertained'.

The post-mortem examination findings of pathologist Dr Alison Armour - that Poppi had been penetrated and had tears in her bottom - were hotly disputed. 

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) last year said senior detectives were 'unstructured and disorganised', and highlighted the lengthy delay into a criminal investigation taking place 'despite there being significant suspicious circumstances from the outset''.

Lawyers for Poppi's mother - who cannot be named for legal reasons - and Mr Worthington both submitted to the coroner there was not enough evidence for him to conclude the toddler was unlawfully killed. 

However, Gillian Irving QC, representing Poppi's mother, argued there was 'clear evidence' that Poppi was subject to a serious sexual assault.

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

Also today, Jerry Graham, 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 Crown Prosecution Service in order to determine possible courses of action.'

Judge on Poppi's injuries: 'The only person who could realistically have done this to her was her father'

Details of what happened to Poppi Worthington were only revealed for first time in January 2016 with the publication of findings by High Court family judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson (above).

Poppi died from injuries sustained shortly after her father, who had earlier been watching pornography on his computer, took her into his bed at the family home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

The family court judge ruled Paul Worthington had brutally abused his daughter who died in hospital hours later.

But a catalogue of blunders by police, social workers and medical staff mean that despite the legal ruling Worthington, 49, is unlikely to face any criminal action without new evidence. 

The supermarket worker, denies any wrongdoing.  

In his ruling Mr Justice Jackson said: 'P [Poppi] suffered injuries causing substantial bleeding from the anus and that she collapsed for no plausible reason. The only explanation for those stubborn facts is that she suffered anal penetration and the only person who could realistically have done this to her was her father.

He added: 'I find that the father perpetrated a penetrative anal assault on P [Poppi], either using his penis or some other unidentified object'.

A statement released by Mr Worthington's lawyers said afterwards': 'Mr Worthington does not accept the findings of the court'.

The ruling was released months after a fresh inquest was ordered into the death of 13-month-old Poppi.

The decision meant more than two years of official silence over the case would be broken.

Poppi died in December 2012 but the public were told nothing about what happened to her or how social workers and police handled the affair.

There was an initial seven-minute inquest in October 2015 during which Cumbria coroner Ian Smith gave no information about the circumstances leading to the girl's death. It simply found that her death was 'unascertained'. 

He added: 'I have previously put on record my sincere apologies to Poppi's family for the deficiencies in the initial police investigation.

'I would like to reinforce this heartfelt apology again today.' 

Cumbria's police and crime commissioner Peter McCall said: 'My thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family of Poppi.  

'The chief constable has rightly apologised for the ineffective police investigation that followed the tragic death of Poppi.'

The coroner's conclusions, running to 87 pages, which he read to the hushed courtroom, said injuries to Poppi's bottom, which were the subject of days of dispute between medical experts during the inquest, were caused by penetration.

Mr Roberts said: 'Only Paul Worthington can provide an account of what happened upstairs between about 2.30am and 5.56am.' 

Nazir Afzal, who was the Crown Prosecution Service northwest chief when he approved the decision not to charge Paul Worthington, has now said police failures prevented a trial

This birthday card was left at Poppi's grave last week. It says: 'You are always in my thoughts ... Have a beautiful birthday playing with all the other special boys and girls up there. Daddy.'

'Irregular' inquest, a father in hiding and an 'unstructured' approach by police: Timeline of Poppi's death

Here are the key events surrounding the death of Poppi Worthington:

• December 12 2012 - Poppi Worthington dies suddenly aged 13 months after she collapses at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and is rushed to hospital.
• February 2013 - Poppi is buried after the coroner releases her body.
• June 2013 - A full post-mortem report indicates the cause of death is unascertained.
• August 2013 - Poppi's parents are arrested and formally interviewed for the first time. Poppi's father, Paul Worthington, is questioned on suspicion of sexually assaulting his daughter - an allegation he denies.
• March 2014 - Fact-finding judgment on the circumstances of Poppi's death is delivered in private as part of family court proceedings involving other children in the family. Its publication is delayed in case it prejudices any criminal trial.
• October 2014 - HM Coroner for South Cumbria, Ian Smith - now retired - holds an inquest at Barrow Town Hall and takes just seven minutes to declare her death as unexplained after stating he was satisfied to rely on the findings of the private fact-finding judgment. The case is not listed in Poppi's name but as 'a child aged 13 months'.
• January 2015 - HM Senior Coroner for Cumbria, David Roberts, confirms he will ask for a fresh inquest in a written reply to lawyers representing various media organisations who argued the October hearing was insufficient and therefore unlawful.
• March 2015 - Cumbria Police announce no charges will be brought against anyone over Poppi's death after they had previously passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service for its consideration.
• April 2015 - Paul Worthington is granted a review of the March 2014 medical evidence, which further delays publication of the original fact-finding judgment.
• July 2015 - High Court judges order a fresh inquest into the youngster's death after the first hearing was deemed 'irregular'.
• November 2015 - A hearing reviewing the medical evidence from the March 2014 court proceedings gets under way in Liverpool. Ahead of the hearing, Mr Justice Peter Jackson (now Lord Justice Peter Jackson) releases parts of his original fact-finding judgment which reveal that Cumbria Police did not conduct any 'real' investigation into Poppi's death for nine months despite a senior pathologist raising concerns the girl's injuries were caused by 'a penetrative sexual assault'.
• January 19 2016 - The judge announced his findings that - on the balance of probabilities - Mr Worthington had sexually assaulted Poppi shortly before her death.
• January 21 2016 - Paul Worthington's sister Tracy tells reporters that he has left Cumbria after being 'hounded'. 
• June 2016 - A Serious Case Review finds that Poppi's mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had a 'difficult and traumatic childhood' in a family 'with intergenerational experiences of neglect and abuse'. It also reveals that Paul Worthington is an ex-partner of a woman who was feared to have sexually exploited Poppi's mother.
• July 2016 - The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says there is 'insufficient evidence' to charge Paul Worthington with any offence over his daughter's death.
• November 2016 - The CPS states that its decision not to charge was correct following an independent review of the evidence, prompted by a request under the victims' right to review scheme.
• March 3 2017 - The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) finally publishes its 2015 findings into the initial police probe over Poppi's death. It finds the approach of senior detectives was 'unstructured and disorganised' and that there were enough grounds to make an arrest on the day of Poppi's death.
• November 27, 2017 - The second inquest starts at County Hall, Kendal, and hears more than three weeks of evidence.
• January 15 2018 - HM Senior Coroner for Cumbria, David Roberts, gives his conclusions.