Twelve months for murdered girl's mother

Jade Hart was murdered on 31 July last year

A young mother whose boyfriend sexually abused and tortured to death her 13-month-old baby has been sentenced to a year in a young offenders institution.

Sarah Hart, 19, from Ramsgate in Kent, was found guilty of neglect and was sentenced today at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court.

Her boyfriend Ross Hammond was jailed for life at the same court last month.

The court heard Hart had failed to call the emergency services or get medical treatment for her daughter Jade after Hammond injured the baby.

The court heard Hart, from Canterbury Road East in Ramsgate, had left Jade in the care of 23-year-old Hammond at his flat on 31 July last year.

Nine broken ribs

When she returned to the flat in Staner Court, she found the baby with head injuries and vomit on her, but did not call for an ambulance.

She was eventually convinced to get help but Jade died within 45 minutes of the ambulance arriving.

Hammond had inflicted 117 injuries on her, including nine broken ribs, and was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder on 10 April.

Sentencing Hart on Friday, Judge Fabyan Evans said: "I accept you were under the influence of Hammond, an evil young man prone to bouts of violence.

"Your conduct fell far short of the minimal maternal care of a mother of a young child.

"It's so serious only a custodial sentence is appropriate."