No blame over shaken baby death

Demi Jewell suffered brain injuries

The killing of a baby girl, shaken to death by her father, could not have been prevented by agencies involved in her care, an inquiry has found.

Christopher Jewell caused a fatal brain injury to four-month-old Demi at the family's County Durham home last year.

He was jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

A review board of county council, police and health bosses, has now concluded there was no evidence to suggest Demi was at risk of harm.

Gail Hopper, chair of Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board, said: "The death of Demi was a terrible tragedy which nobody could have predicted.

Christopher Jewell spent months denying his crime

"The review concluded that there was no reason for the health and school staff in contact with the family to have any concerns about Demi's care and wellbeing.

"There was no indication that such a tragic event like this would occur."

County Durham Primary Care Trust and County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust have now acted on recommendations to change the way in which health visitors and midwives record details of family visits.

The review also highlighted that it would be good practice for health workers to ensure that both parents or carers received advice about the danger of shaking babies.

Jewell, 25, also broke his daughter's ribs when he shook her violently after losing his temper at Ritson Road, Newton Aycliffe, on 5 January, 2007.

She died three days later in hospital.