Mother sentenced for baby death

Judge Philip Clegg said Inman put her emotional needs first

A woman who let her baby die at the hands of her partner in Cambridgeshire has walked free from court, despite being given a five-year jail term.

Kelly Inman, 22, of Whittlesey, admitted allowing the death of Leeya, who suffered a skull fracture and bites to her face and hands in December 2006.

Judge Philip Clegg at Ipswich Crown Court took into account the 1,009 days Inman had already spent in custody.

Leeya's father, Olusola Akinrele, 34, is due to be sentenced for her murder.

Baby found lifeless

Judge Clegg sentenced Inman to three years in jail for allowing Leeya's death and two years for an unrelated £98,000 fraud.

The court heard paramedics found seven-week old Leeya apparently lifeless at the family home.

She died 12 days later after a hospital life support machine was turned off when doctors decided there was no prospect of recovery.

You were in love with this bully and desperate to believe he would not have done anything to harm your child Judge Philip Clegg

Jurors on Thursday found Akinrele guilty of murder following a nine-week trial.

Inman, who has previously admitted allowing Leeya's death, was cleared of murder and of causing the baby's death.

Jurors heard that Leeya had been repeatedly assaulted and had suffered brain damage.

On one occasion she was shaken so hard that one of her ribs was broken, the court was told.

Other injuries she suffered included a fractured skull, a broken femur and broken fingers.

Leeya was on a life-support machine for 12 days before it was switched off

Sentencing Inman, Judge Philip Clegg told her: "You admitted you had failed to protect your child from the risk of which she ultimately died."

He said Leeya would have been noticeably unwell before she died and Inman had "ample grounds" to suspect what was happening.

"The reason you did not take her to the doctor was that, in the two-and-a-half years you were with Mr Akinrele, you were the subject of domestic tyranny," he said to Inman, who sat silently weeping in the dock.
"You were in love with this bully and desperate to believe he would not have done anything to harm your child.

"You put your own emotional needs before the needs of your child and you put your own fear in front of your child.

"As far as you are concerned she was wanted and loved.

"Had it not been for Mr Akinrele, Leeya would have thrived."

Inman was also sentenced for two conspiracy to defraud charges related to various incidents between January 2004 and June 2005.

The court heard the charges involved opening several student bank accounts using false names and identity documents and emptying the instant overdraft facility offered with the account.

As Inman left court, she said: "It won't bring my little girl back, that's all I'm going to say."

Akinrele will be sentenced at a later date.