Dad blasts ‘evil’ ex partner who starved disabled daughter to death

A UK woman has been jailed for the horror death of her daughter, who weighed just 23.5 kilos and was unrecognisable when she died.

A British father has labelled his ex “evil” after she was convicted of starving their disabled daughter to death while raking in more than $400 a week in benefits.

Debbie Leitch, who had Down’s syndrome, weighed just 23.5 kilos and wasn’t “immediately recognisable as a young female” when paramedics found her dead in her bedroom.

The 24-year-old was severely emaciated after months of neglect by mother, Elaine Clarke, at their home in Blackpool, northwest England.

Clarke was jailed for nine years over the devastating neglect uncovered when emergency services were called to young Debbie’s home to find her maggot-filled room that smelled like “death”.

Debbie Leitch, who had Down’s syndrome, weighed just 23 kilos when her body was found in horror conditions. Picture: SWNS/Mega

The court had previously heard Clarke, 49, claimed £860 ($AU1606) every month to care for her daughter – while splashing cash on handbags and shoes as Debbie starved.

Debbie’s father Thomas detailed his devastation at Clarke’s heartless actions, labelling his former partner “evil”.

“Being at the court and hearing all of that – it was just horrible. I felt sick,” he told The Sun

“It goes to prove how evil Elaine really is.”

Looking at his ex as she sat in the dock, Mr Leitch said he was haunted by her expression.

“All she was doing was sitting there and playing with her thumbs,” he said.

“She didn’t even cry. She had no emotion at all.

“It was the same as it was at the funeral – no emotion.”

The neglect Debbie suffered at the hands of her mother was so bad that she endured a scabies infection which went untreated.

Scabies is a contagious, intensely itchy skin condition caused by a tiny, burrowing mites that in Debbie’s case, caused her hair to fall out and her face to swell and scab.

When emergency services made their way inside the property in August 2019, Debbie’s room smelled like “death” and there were live maggots, old takeaways and soiled nappies beside her body.

Elaine Clarke was sentenced to nine years over the devastating neglect uncovered when emergency services. Picture: SWNS/Mega

Tragically, Debbie may have died up to 36 hours before her “lazy and selfish” mum called the emergency services, the court heard.

Clarke initially denied manslaughter by gross negligence – but changed her plea shortly before a planned trial.

‘She’s evil’

Heartbreakingly, neighbours said they heard the tragic youngster sobbing for her mum in the days before she died.

Thomas said: “I just can’t understand why no one did anything to help Debbie.

“She was dying and no one did anything.”

A judge heard today that Debbie was in such a state when medics arrived that her clothes had fused to her skin.

Her jumper and trousers were covered in mites and her clothing was soiled.

A post-mortem revealed she died of starvation and neglect.

Debbie, pictured as a child, died of starvation and neglect. Picture: SWNS/Mega

In 2016, she weighed around 64 kilos – but by the time of her death three years later, she’d lost more than 38 kilos and weighed as much as a seven-year-old.

Judge Amanda Yip said today that Debbie “idolised” her mother. The youngster had a boyfriend and went to college.

But Clarke began to neglect the young woman, keeping her shut away in a filthy bedroom.

After family members spoke of their concern shortly before Debbie’s death – warning the victim “looked like something out of a horror movie” – Clarke hauled her into a bathroom and roughly cleaned her.

Debbie “screamed” throughout the “excruciating” wash as her raw skin was scrubbed.

The 24-year-old’s mum cashed in benefits for looking after her, but locked Debbie in her room. Picture: SWNS/Mega

‘Why didn’t anyone help?’

He also hit out at social services, the UK’s child protection agency, who dropped an investigation into Debbie’s care when Clarke failed to engage with them.

“Elaine was always very good at lying, but it’s like social [services’ just said, ‘Alright, case closed’,” he said.

Since the tragedy, Blackpool Council has confirmed a formal safeguarding adults review will now take place.

The dad said he missed years with Debbie after he and Clarke split when his daughter was just five. He wanted to “save” the marriage – but Debbie was sent to live with her mum by authorities.

Thomas learned of his daughter’s death on Facebook.

He immediately took responsibility for organising the funeral.

But he said he was not entitled to a funeral grant and Clarke made the decision to bury Debbie in a pauper’s grave.

“I managed to get half of her ashes and I buried her in a local church, right next to my dad,” he said.

“At least I was able to do that for her.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission