Suffolk charity urges people to familiarise themselves with signs of child abuse
It comes following the death of two-year-old Isabella Wheildon - who was killed by 24-year-old Scott Jeff in June last year
A charity supporting victims of abuse in Suffolk is urging the public to make themselves familiar with the signs that a child might be being abused.
It comes following the death of two-year-old Isabella Wheildon - who was killed by her mum's partner, 24-year-old Scott Jeff in June last year.
At Ipswich Crown Court yesterday - he was handed 26 years in prison for her murder.
He was found guilty following a seven-week trial back in November.
Jeff, who is not the girl's father, was also found guilty of two counts of two counts of child cruelty, which he'd also denied.
Isabella's mum, 24-year-old Chelsea Gleason Mitchell, was also sentenced to 10 years in prison, for causing or allowing the death of a child.
She was cleared of murder.
"It's about trying to pick up on subtle changes in behaviour"
Rhys LLoyd is from Leeway - he says there are key things to look out for that might suggest something isn't right: "Are there any visible signs that the child might be stressed, unhappy or hurt?
".... It's about trying to pick up on subtle changes in behaviour - perhaps they jump a bit easier.
"By that I mean they're noticeably scared of their parent or parents...
"They might emotional more easily, they might want constant comfort from a teddy bear or something similar...
"If you think a child's behaving like a nightmare, try and think about why they're behaving in that way - is it something happening at home?
"These are little signs that could alert someone to the fact something might be wrong."
"They don't have a voice"
Rhys says it's important to be the voice for those who don't have one: "In the middle of any case of child abuse, you've got the poor child who's caught up in it.
"They don't have a voice or avenue to reach out for help independently...
"If we have a culture where we turn a blind eye to abuse or downplay it, it makes it a lot harder for people to get support when they need it."
"Escalating brutality"
Speaking during the trial, prosecutor Sally Howes KC told jurors that Isabella was a "healthy, contented, well-cared for little girl until Scott Jeff came into her young life".
"Towards the end of May 2023, he entered a relationship with Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell," said Ms Howes, as she opened the prosecution case last month.
"From that time up to her death, Isabella was subjected to a regime of escalating brutality which was callous, cruel and ultimately fatal."
She said Isabella's "own mother Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell stood back, watched, did nothing and allowed this to happen".
"Extensive external traumatic injuries"
The barrister said a post-mortem examination identified "extensive external traumatic injuries to the soft tissues of the body including head, neck, torso, limbs" and other areas.
Ms Howes said Isabella sustained fractures to both wrists and a "complex pelvic fracture involving several bones".
She said the toddler's cause of death was given as "bone marrow embolism caused by skeletal trauma".