Toddler's sunglasses 'hid bruising', court told

Isabella Wheildon lived with her mother and Scott Jeff in a tent on the beach near Great Yarmouth, the court heard

A toddler had been wearing sunglasses to "hide" bruising in the week before her body was discovered in a pushchair, a court heard.

Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and former partner Scott Jeff, both 24, deny the murder of her daughter Isabella Wheildon.

The two-year-old's body was found in a property on Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, on 30 June 2023, but she was believed to have died days previously.

Mr Jeff told Ipswich Crown Court he believed Isabella's mother put the dark glasses on her daughter's face.

Isabella's body was found dead in a locked bathroom in a temporary housing unit in Ipswich

Video footage of the girl - seen with dark rings around her eyes while living in the temporary housing unit on 22 June - was shown to the jury.

Questioned by his defence, Christopher Paxton KC, Mr Jeff claimed he was worried about the bruising and had threatened to call social services, but did not go through with it.

When asked why she was wearing the glasses, he replied: "Chelsea put them on her."

"Do you know why," Mr Paxton asked.

Mr Jeff responded: "Probably to hide the bruise under her eye."

Asked why he did not raise his concerns with social services, he said: "It seemed like a very traumatising thing for a child to be in and out of care, so I was very reluctant."

The two-year-old and her mother previously lived in Bedfordshire

Previously throughout the trial, Ms Gleason-Mitchell said the injuries caused to her child were at the hands of Mr Jeff.

She said he assaulted her on many occasions in the lead up to her death.

Mr Jeff said he never hurt the child.

Expletive-laden voice notes sent to his friend were played to the court, in which he ranted about his anger that the child had an accident during potty training.

Mr Jeff told the jury he was a "vocal person" and had never harmed Isabella.

Scott Jeff had been living with Ms Gleason-Mitchell and Isabella in hotels in Norfolk before arriving in Ipswich

Ms Gleason-Mitchell previously admitted to causing or allowing her daughter's death, but denies murder.

Mr Jeff, 24, denies causing or allowing Isabella's death, and murder.

The trial continues.