Thursday 14 July 2016


The Crown Prosecution Service says there is "insufficient evidence" to charge the father of toddler Poppi Worthington.

Poppi was found with serious injuries in Barrow-in-Furness in 2012
Poppi was found with serious injuries in Barrow-in-Furness in 2012
The father of Poppi Worthington, who died after she was found with serious injuries at her home, will not face any criminal charges.
The Crown Prosecution Service said there is still insufficient evidence to charge Paul Worthington with any offence related to his daughter's death in 2012.
"The CPS has looked at the original decision in this case that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction - as we often do in other cases," the CPS said.
"We have reached the same conclusion."
The 13-month-old suffered serious injuries at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria, on 12 December 2012.
She was rushed to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Mr Worthington was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault in August 2013, but has not been charged with any offence.
He has always denied any wrongdoing.
But High Court judge Mr Justice Peter Jackson ruled in January this year that the 48-year-old had sexually assaulted his daughter shortly before her sudden death.
The CPS had previously decided there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction" but, following Mr Justice Jackson's findings, said it would be "reviewing the case".
In its latest statement, the CPS said it was not its function "to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the criminal (courts) to consider".
Mr Justice Jackson's ruling was made as part of care proceedings in the family court involving siblings of Poppi.
The judge concluded that Cumbria Police carried out no "real" investigation into the death of the toddler for nine months, and highlighted a list of basic errors in evidence-gathering.
He noted that senior detectives thought a pathologist "may have jumped to conclusions" in her belief that the youngster had been a victim of abuse.
Cumbria Police referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in June 2014.
Responding to the CPS decision, the chief constable of Cumbria Police made a "full and heartfelt apology" for the force's flawed investigation into the death.
Chief constable Jerry Graham said the investigation "fell well short of the standard that could have been expected".
"I have read and considered all the available reports relating to Cumbria Constabulary's handling of the initial investigation into Poppi's death," he said.
"I am absolutely clear that the Constabulary's initial investigation fell well short of the standard that could and indeed should have been expected.
"For this I would like to make a full and heartfelt apology to Poppi's family and all those who loved her."
Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall added: "I am disappointed that despite a re-investigation no criminal charges will be brought.
"The Constabulary has let Poppi down as no one has been brought to justice for her tragic death."

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