Blackpool mother jailed for starving daughter to death

Debbie Leitch was found dead at her home in Blackpool

A mother who starved her daughter to death has been jailed for nine years and seven months.

Debbie Leitch, 24, who had Down's syndrome, died at her home in South Shore, Blackpool, on 29 August 2019.

A post-mortem examination found she died of neglect and severe emaciation with extensive scabies skin infection.

Her mother Elaine Clarke, 49, pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter 10 days before she was due to stand trial at Preston Crown Court.

Sentencing Clarke, Mrs Justice Yip said Miss Leitch's condition had "deteriorated dramatically" in the months leading up to her death.

"Nothing was done to halt her decline. Debbie was starved, her scabies was allowed to run out of control, she became more and more weakened until she died," she said.

"In her last days, she was denied even the most basic care and dignity.

"Anyone entering her room and seeing her towards the end of her life could have been left with no doubt that her life was in real danger."

The judge said Clarke "ignored that risk and left Debbie to die in her squalid room".

'Horror movie'

The court heard Clarke, of Garden Terrace in South Shore, had received weekly benefit payments of £215 to care for her daughter.

A family member who visited the house in July 2019 and went into Miss Leitch's room later told police the room smelled of filth and had plates of mouldy food on the floor.

Miss Leitch's cousin told the court Clarke had "always been a lazy and selfish mother"

A few weeks later the same family member returned to the property where Miss Leitch's skin condition had worsened again, with the relative later telling police she appeared "half-dead" and her room "resembled a horror movie".

She was so concerned she phoned Miss Leitch's doctor who made a home visit but had no safeguarding concerns as she was sitting on the sofa and had been showered.

Social services attended the address twice on 29 July 2019, but were prevented from entering.

A third visit on 1 August 2019 "noted nothing of concern", police said.

In January, Blackpool Council confirmed a formal safeguarding adults review will take place.

'Despicable individual'

Miss Leitch weighed 10st 1lb (64kg) when she lived in Leeds in 2016, but only weighed 3st 10lb (24kg) at the time of her death.

The court heard the scene that greeted emergency services was "truly shocking", as Miss Leitch's face was "completely encrusted with scabs and thickened skin, such that she was no longer recognisable as being a young female".

Lancashire Police said Clarke knew her daughter had died by about 20:00 but waited before calling 999, with paramedics arriving at 22:40.

The court heard Miss Leitch had died some time between eight and 36 hours before the ambulance crews attended.

In a victim statement read out to the court, Miss Leitch's cousin Sammy Muggridge said her death had had "a profound effect on me and my family".

"All she wanted was the love and affection of her mother," she said.

She said Clarke had "always been a lazy and selfish mother", who would "buy handbags and shoes, but would not get out of bed".

She added that the last time she saw Miss Leitch was in her bedroom and the "stench of death" in the room would "live with me forever".

Speaking after sentencing, Det Ch Insp Lee Wilson said the death was "wholly avoidable" and Clarke was "truly a despicable individual".

He said Miss Leitch "craved affection and love" from a mother "she clearly doted on and loved".

"That support was coldly withheld as Clarke prioritised her own needs," he added.

"When she knew visitors were coming from social services, or local doctors, Clarke would tidy up, wash Debbie and make it appear all was well. When they left, she would leave Debbie in her room, often crying, calling for her mummy."

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