Girl, 2, died from ‘regime of escalating brutality’, UK court told

A little girl who died from horror injuries was allegedly killed by her mum’s boyfriend in a truly shocking case of abuse, a court has heard.

Warning: Distressing content

A British mum and her lover are accused of wheeling a toddler’s body around for three days in her pram after she died from a “regime of escalating brutality”, a court heard.

Isabella Rose Wheildon suffered horror injuries after she was allegedly kicked or stomped on by her mum’s boyfriend, 24-year-old Scott Jeff.

Jurors heard how the two-year-old is believed to have died on June 26 last year in a temporary housing unit in Ipswich, about two hours north east of London.

But Mr Jeff and Isabella’s mum, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, also 24, allegedly kept the girl’s death a secret, The Sun reported.

Isabella Rose Wheildon, 2, died from ‘regime of escalating brutality’, a UK court has heard. Picture: Supplied

Ipswich Crown Court was told they carried on pushing her body around in a pushchair with the hood pulled up to shield her face.

The couple also allegedly took her corpse on a shopping trip to buy computer gaming equipment.

She was finally discovered on June 30 under blankets in a shower at the housing unit.

One officer pulled back the blankets to see the “face of a young child who was not moving”.

Prosecutor Sally Howes KC said the officer “was aware of severe bruising on her face” and described the little girl as “cold to the touch”.

The discovery was made when a woman reported to police on June 30 that she had received a Facebook message from a “friend of hers”.

Police found her body in the shower hidden under blankets. Picture: Supplied

Ms Howes said: “That message disclosed that her friend’s daughter had died in her sleep three days before and was in her pushchair in the bathroom.

“That friend was the first defendant, Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, and her daughter was Isabella.”

Ms Gleason-Mitchell is accused of allowing her daughter’s death to happen as she “stood back, watched and did nothing”.

A post mortem found the two-year-old had “extensive external traumatic injuries to the soft tissues of the body including head, neck, torso, limbs” and other areas.

She had also suffered fractures to both wrists and a “complex pelvic fracture involving several bones”.

Her cause of death was given as “bone marrow embolism caused by skeletal trauma”.

‘Regime of escalating brutality’

The court heard the child had “severe” damage to her pelvis

Ms Howes said: “It’s the prosecution case that Isabella Wheildon was a healthy, contented, well-cared for little girl until Scott Jeff came into her young life.

“Towards the end of May 2023, he entered a relationship with Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell.

“From that time up to her death, Isabella was subjected to a regime of escalating brutality which was callous, cruel and ultimately fatal.”

Scott Jeff, the boyfriend of Isabella’s mum Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, is accused of her murder. Picture: Supplied

Ms Gleason-Mitchell and Mr Jeff lived together in hotels along the UK’s east coast and spent time in a caravan park before they ended up in a home provided by the council.

The mum told Great Yarmouth Borough Council she and her daughter were “homeless” and escaping domestic abuse from her ex.

She also falsely claimed Mr Jeff was Isabella’s biological dad and refused a home by Bedfordshire Council for her and the youngster as she wanted to stay with her partner.

After moving into the unit, CCTV showed the toddler being pushed around in her chair, wearing sunglasses with the hood up, concealing her head, it was said.

The court heard the couple went with Isabella out on June 26, visiting a barber shop so Mr Jeff could get a haircut.

They returned at 3.15pm with CCTV showing the youngster’s legs and feet moving in her pushchair – suggesting she was still alive.

Ms Gleason-Mitchell has pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child but denies murder. Picture: Supplied

The court was told this is believed to the last image of Isabella and that she had died later that day.

Ms Howes also told the court that both Mr Jeff and Ms Gleason-Mitchell were habitual drug users.

She said a “safe, proper and obvious inference can be drawn that both wilfully exposed Isabella to drugs”.

Mr Jeff has denied causing or allowing Isabella’s death and murder.

Ms Gleason-Mitchell has pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child but denies murder.

The trial continues.

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