Girl's murder 'one of worst cases' officers seen

3 hours ago

Naj ModakNorth East and Cumbria

Isabelle Welsh was physically and sexually abused before her murder

Supplied Head-and-shoulders image of Isabelle Rose Welsh. She is a two-year-old girl, is smiling directly into the camera and has dark curly hair. She is wearing a pink top. — Isabelle Welsh was physically and sexually abused before her murder

Warning: This story contains distressing details

The murder of a two-year-old girl was "without a doubt one of the worst cases" detectives had encountered, the officer who led the investigation has said.

Isabelle Welsh endured a "sadistic" campaign of violence and abuse before being murdered at her Thornaby home in September by her mother and her mum's new boyfriend, both of whom have been jailed for life.

Det Ch Insp Steve Chatterton of Cleveland Police said the severity of Isabelle's injuries was "shocking" and described the pain and suffering she endured at the hands of Alexandra Walker and Harrison Simpson as "sickening".

Chatterton said Isabelle "was an innocent child who should have been safe and happy at home".

Isabelle died in hospital on 14 September, a day after emergency services were called to her home to reports she had collapsed.

She had suffered a fractured skull and unsurvivable brain injury from either being violently shaken or flung into a wall, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The toddler was found to be covered in bruises and had sustained 21 broken bones in the weeks before her death, with the judge Ms Justice Norton saying the girl had endured a "sadistic" campaign of abuse.

Alexandra Walker and Harrison Simpson were found guilty of murder and child cruelty

Cleveland Police Mugshots of Alexandra Walker and Harrison Simpson. She has long dyed red hair and a vacant expression, he has short brown hair swept across his forehead and is slightly grimacing. — Alexandra Walker and Harrison Simpson were found guilty of murder and child cruelty

After she sentenced the killers, Norton commended Chatterton and his team, along with the force's family liaison officers.

Chatteron said: "This has been, without a doubt, one of the worst cases my team and I have dealt with.

"Isabelle was an innocent child who should have been safe and happy at home.

"The pain and suffering she experienced at the hands of Walker and Simpson was sickening."

He said Walker "repeatedly lied" to try and cover their "despicable actions", further adding to the pain of Isabelle's family.

Officers' thoughts "remain firmly with Isabelle's loved ones", he added.

Chatteron said detectives had shown "unwavering determination" to secure justice for the toddler and praised the team's professionalism throughout the investigation.

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