Wiltshire father pleads guilty to killing baby daughter

Miyah's mother Jasmine Warnock, 29, pleaded guilty to child cruelty

The father of a three-month old baby girl who died of fatal head injuries has admitted killing her.

Miyah Warnock was taken from Cornfield Road, Devizes in Wiltshire to Bristol Children's Hospital on 20 September, 2021 but died on 19 October from a brain bleed.

Samuel Warnock, 29, formerly of Cornfield Road, Devizes, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the start of his trial at Winchester Crown Court.

He is due to be sentenced on 18 March.

Miyah's mother Jasmine Warnock, 29, pleaded guilty to child cruelty having previously faced a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Caroline Carberry KC, prosecuting, said the pleas "were acceptable" following consultation with the chief crown prosecutor and the baby's maternal grandparents.

She said Mr Warnock faced up to 16 years in prison while Mrs Warnock faced a sentence of up to two years.

Jasmine Warnock and her husband will be sentenced in March

Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, representing Mrs Warnock, said her client had entered a guilty plea on the basis that she did not witness any assault on Miyah.

"Jasmine Warnock did not foresee the risk of death or any serious injury to Miyah from the actions of Sam Warnock," she said.

"Jasmine Warnock at no time inflicted injury on Miyah and was not present when injury was inflicted."

She said Ms Warnock was not present on 20 September "when injuries leading to death were inflicted".

She added when Mrs Warnock raised the issue of Miyah's bruising, Mr Warnock told her he had a "loss of sensitivity in his hands" which affected how he handled the baby.

He also told her he had fallen down the stairs while carrying Miyah after his "knee had given way".

"Jasmine Warnock accepted these explanations without pressing further," Ms Bennett-Jenkins said.

'Going limp'

She added Mrs Warnock had raised the issue of Mr Warnock's handling of Miyah but accepted that she had not taken further steps to prevent it from happening.

She said Mrs Warnock was not present when Miyah first collapsed on 18 September but saw her subsequently.

She was recorded on a 999 call saying the child "could not breathe properly, her eyes were rolling backwards and she was going limp."

Ms Bennett-Jenkins said Mrs Warnock accepted that she did not investigate the cause of the collapse and had allowed Mr Warnock to have sole care of Miyah on the following days before her death.

The pair will be sentenced on 18 March.