Charity calls for change after serious failings contributed to Ipswich toddler’s tragic death in 2023.
Scott Jeff and Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell were jailed in December. The court case took place at Ipswich Crown Court. Both were twenty-four years old. They faced charges connected to Isabella’s death.
Jeff got life for murder and child cruelty. His sentence has a minimum of twenty-six years. He was not Isabella’s dad. Police provided images of Jeff and Gleason-Mitchell.
Gleason-Mitchell, Isabella’s mom, was cleared of murder. She was found guilty of causing Isabella’s death and also faced child cruelty charges. Her jail term is ten years long.
Jeff, Gleason-Mitchell, and Isabella needed housing. They were placed in temporary care in Ipswich after seeking accommodation following their time in Great Yarmouth.
Prosecutors described escalating brutality in the weeks before Isabella’s death. She endured this “regime” while in their care, and the situation quickly worsened.
The NSPCC called the cruelty heartbreaking and stated Jeff’s actions were shocking. The charity said chances to protect Isabella were missed and that professionals failed on multiple occasions.
The review stated Isabella’s voice went unheard, and she became invisible to authorities. Information wasn’t shared between agencies in her final weeks. Police investigated the scene in June 2023.
The charity notes these issues occur repeatedly after child deaths. These deaths often involve abuse or neglect, and these patterns keep happening, which is not acceptable.
We owe all children our protection, especially the young. Isabella, very vulnerable, deserved better. The agencies must respond locally to this review, scrutinize their practices, and implement change.