Miss GB Winner Who Became Detective Failed to Properly Probe Child Death

Detective Inspector Amanda Sadler — who won the Miss Great Britain contest in 1989 — did not know how to lead an inquiry into the death of 13-month-old Poppi Worthington and was not qualified to be a senior investigating officer, an inquest heard on November 30.

​The 51-year-old policewoman had never read basic investigation protocol, or completed a course in dealing with a child death, it emerged. Basic steps laid out in "black and white" in a document known as "Chapter 13" were never followed resulting in forensic evidence not being sent for analysis for months, including the bed sheets where Poppi collapsed were not collected and her body was not swabbed for evidence for five days, Coroner David Roberts said.

​The dramatic admissions were made as the policewoman gave evidence to an inquest into the child's death in December 2012.

​Paul Worthington, the girl's father, was ruled by a family court judge to have sexually assaulted her in their home in Barrow-in-Furness hours before she died.

Incompetence

A series of mistakes by Cumbria police force who were investigating the death meant, however, the case never reached court and Worthington remains a free man.

Mrs Sadler admitted gross incompetence and was demoted to the rank of sergeant, but retired in 2016.

​Giving evidence to the inquest, she said: "I wasn't at that time an SIO or trained to that level. I hadn't undergone any child death training."

Under questioning from the coroner, she admitted she had never read a document called "Chapter 13" which lays out the strict protocol required for investigating a child death.

He said: "Did you read it after you were given the case? She replied: "I didn't read it on the day…I've read it since."

​Her supervisor, Detective Superintendent Mike Forrester said he had never heard of some of the steps laid out in the document, the inquest heard. He was found to have a case to answer for gross misconduct but he retired aged 48 on a full pension before any disciplinary action could be taken.

Court Findings

Last year Mr. Justice Peter Jackson said the toddler suffered "a penetrative sexual assault" before her sudden death and "the only person who could realistically have done this to her was her father." He published his findings in January, 2016 and ruled Worthington had brutally abused his daughter.

​Giving evidence, Poppi's father refused to answer 183 questions by citing "Rule 22" which allows witnesses at inquests to avoid incriminating themselves. 

He did, however, say his daughter was a "lovely, bubbly, happy child", adding: "She could bully — in her own way."

Asked why her DNA was on his genitals, Worthington refused to say. The inquest heard he told police it was because he had been to the toilet after trying to help her breathe.

Tears

Breaking down in tears, Worthington refused to answer if he had sexually abused her, or smothered her with a pillow.

​Medical staff at Furness General Hospital had earlier told the toddler's inquest when Poppi arrived in accident and emergency she had blood dripping down her legs and could not be saved.

Kate Stone, representing the girl's mother, asked him about Poppi's health, why she was bleeding but all her questions went unanswered.

​Poppi's mother — who cannot be named for legal reasons — looked visibly upset as he refused to answer a barrage of questions to avoid self-incrimination.

Worthington, who denies hurting his daughter, said she had a good appetite and was generally "fit as a fiddle" before her sudden death.

The high court ordered a fresh inquest into Poppi's death after her first hearing lasted just seven minutes and recorded a verdict of unexplained death. The second inquest is now expected to last up to four weeks.

The inquest continues.