TOT 'MURDER'
Girl, 2, ‘suffered regime of escalating brutality at hands of mum’s lover before body found under blankets in shower’
Tragic toddler discovered in temporary housing unit but cause of death has not been established
A TODDLER suffered a "regime of escalating brutality" at the hands of her mum's lover before her body was found under blankets in the shower, a court heard.
Isabella Rose Wheildon’s body was discovered in a temporary housing unit in Ipswich on June 30 last year.
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The two-year-old suffered multiple fractures and soft tissue injuries allegedly caused by 24-year-old Scott Jeff stomping on or kicking her.
Her mum Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, 24, has pleaded guilty to causing or allowing her daughter's death but denies murder.
Ipswich Crown Court was told the nursery nurse allegedly allowed her death to happen as she “stood back, watched and did nothing”.
Jurors heard little Isabella was dead for several days before her body was found under blankets in a shower.
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The discovery was made when a woman reported to police on June 30 that she had received a Facebook message from a "friend of hers".
Prosecutor Sally Howes KC said: "That message disclosed that her friend's daughter had died in her sleep three days before and was in her pushchair in the bathroom.
"That friend was the first defendant, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, and her daughter was Isabella."
A post mortem found Isabella had "extensive external traumatic injuries to the soft tissues of the body including head, neck, torso, limbs" and other areas.
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She had also suffered fractures to both wrists and a "complex pelvic fracture involving several bones".
Her cause of death was given as "bone marrow embolism caused by skeletal trauma".
The court heard this "severe" damage to her pelvis was likely caused by "either kicking or stamping or both".
Ms Howes said: "It's the prosecution case that Isabella Wheildon 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.
"From that time up to her death, Isabella was subjected to a regime of escalating brutality which was callous, cruel and ultimately fatal."
The prosecutor said Isabella's "own mother Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell stood back, watched, did nothing and allowed this to happen".
Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff lived together in hotels in Great Yarmouth, a caravan park and "camping in a very small tent on Caister beach" in Norfolk before they ended up in Ipswich.
The mum told Great Yarmouth Borough Council she and her daughter were "homeless" and escaping domestic abuse from her ex.
She also falsely claimed Jeff was Isabella's biological dad and refused a home by Bedfordshire Council for her and the youngster as she wanted to stay with her partner.
The couple were arrested on July 1 last year, with Jeff claiming he "didn't assault or commit any unlawful act in relation to Isabella at any time".
Jurors heard he also claimed he had "started to notice bruising on her face" and "raised concerns with my partner who suggested those marks were nothing to worry about".
Gleason-Mitchell meanwhile told cops "she didn't kill her daughter and she thinks it's the harm Scott Jeff did to her that killed her".
She also said the "violence started" when there were issues with potty training and claimed Jeff would hit Isabella if she said she was a "mummy's girl".
Jeff has denied causing or allowing Isabella's death and murder.
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Gleason-Mitchell has pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child but denies murder.
The trial, which is set to last for up to eight weeks, continues.
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