CHLOE THOMAS 3MOS (12-2002 TO 4-11-2003) (KB-Ceri Thomas & Sarah Scott-Bio Father & Bio Mother) AT RISK BABY HAD FORTY FRACTURES WHEN SHE DIED AFTER SOCIAL WORKER DELAY July 8th, 2006 @12:01 AM A baby well known to social services suffered a six-week delay in being allocated a new social worker and had 40 broken bones when she died, a coroner said. Mary Hassell, the Cardiff coroner, said there was a lengthy delay in getting Chloe Thomas a new social worker even though she was on an at riskregister. The baby, who was three months old when she died, endured a Continuous and sustained pattern of abuse in her short life that resulted in a brain haemorrhage and multiple fractures, she said, as she recorded a verdict of unlawful killing. At a child protection conference before Chloes death, a great deal of concern was displayed by health professionals. The coroners findings will be reported to South Wales police. A force spokesman said: We have only just got the verdict from the coroner. We will be in contact with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) and open discussions to consider a way forward in this case. Chloes father, Ceri Thomas, was cleared of murdering her but was jailed for three months at Cardiff crown court last January after admitting cruelty. Her mother, Sarah Scott, who was 15yrs when she became pregnant, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was given a three-year community rehabilitation order. Chloe is believed to have suffered some injuries after her father tried to get her to walk at only two months. The normal age for a child to learn to walk is between 10 and 18 months. Mr Thomas, 23yrs, tried to explain fractures to her skull, wrists, ribs and legs by the walking lessons. He told the inquest: I did try to walk her once but I know that Sarah did it several times. But I dont see how it would have caused the injuries. Chloe died at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, after she stopped breathing at the couples home in Pencoed, near Bridgend. Mr Thomas said: Maybe Chloes death was down to mine and Sarahs inexperience. If we had accepted help and been more experienced maybe Chloe would be with us today. Miss Scott, 19, denied walking the child. She said she cared for Chloe most of the time but could not explain the injuries. Dr Susan Morris, a childrens radiologist, told the inquest Chloes injuries were probably non-accidental. She said: The fracture to the shoulder is an unusual one - Ive only ever seen it in books. It requires an unusual kind of pressure - Im guessing it would be caused by swinging the child around by the arm. This is probably a non-accidental injury. The 40 rib fractures would have been caused by an unusual amount of crushing pressure. Other fractures to Chloes legs and arms would have been caused by a twisting motion. Two skull fractures would have been caused by something hard. Miss Scotts aunt, Sian Casey, said she was not satisfied with the outcome of the inquest as she wanted to know who was responsible for the babys death. She said tearfully: I will never be satisfied. Mrs Casey said she had reported her concerns about the childs welfare but claimed that the baby was not helped. She had told the inquest she was looking after Chloe when she noticed bruises. I asked Sarah how she got them. She just laughed at me and said she had been walking Chloe and had been told to do so by social services. Mrs Casey called a health visitor because she was so concerned. Anne Powell, a health visitor, later took Chloe to Malarmagal Yoganatham, a GP. He told the inquest: Chloe seemed very weak and quiet. She was vacant and not laughing like other children of her age. I told the health visitor we needed to keep an eye on her but I saw no sign of real pain and no sign that she had suffered 40 fractures. Prosecutors offered no evidence against Mr Thomas on the murder charge and a not guilty verdict was entered. UPDATE: Friday, July 7th, 2006 UNLAWFUL KILLING VERDICT ON BABY Police may review babys death A verdict of unlawful killing has been returned on a 14wk old baby who suffered 40 broken bones. Chloe Thomas had devastating head injuries, and Cardiff coroner Mary Hassell said there was no doubt in her mind she had suffered sustained abuse. The inquest was told by her father Ceri Thomas, 23yrs - who had earlier avoided a murder charge - he had been teaching her to walk before she was injured. Chloe had skull, wrist, rib, leg and finger fractures when she died in 2003. Thomas said the inexperience of himself and partner Sarah Scott, 19, may have played a part in Chloes death. I told him he shouldnt hold her like that, but he was very angry and didnt seem to care-Sarah Scott, Mother In January, the prosecution told a judge at Swansea Crown Court that it would no longer press ahead with a murder charge against Chloes father. Peter Murphy QC said a prosecution expert had concluded she died from shaken baby syndrome. A defence expert later identified an earlier injury to Chloe and, in her opinion, a choking fit could have raised her blood pressure, causing previously damaged tissue inside her head to rupture. Mr Murphy said that the prosecution could not discount such a theory and they could not prove whether the injuries were caused by her parents. The judge entered a formal not guilty verdict to the charge of murder. Chloe, their only child, died after she stopped breathing at their home in Bridgend, south Wales. Giving evidence at the inquest, Thomas said he and his girlfriend had tried walking their daughter at eight weeks. He said: I did try to walk her once, but I know that Sarah did it several times but I dont see how it would have caused the injuries. The night she died, she seemed perfectly normal but then went floppy and pale. Bruises When I put her to sleep I realised that she wasnt breathing and I thought she was dead. Maybe Chloes death was down to mine and Sarahs inexperience and not accepting any help from social services. If we had accepted help and been more experienced maybe Chloe would be with us today. The inquest had heard Chloes aunt saw bruises over her body and Scott told her they were caused by teaching her to walk. In her evidence, Scott - who denied she had ever walked the child - told the hearing her ex-boyfriend used to pick the child up roughly in arguments. She said Thomas would threaten to leave the family home and then grip the baby tightly in his arms. Scott said: During one argument he said you aint having my daughter - shes coming with me, and picked her up. Skull fractures He was holding her with his arm across her middle - her head was hanging down. I told him he shouldnt hold her like that, but he was very angry and didnt seem to care. I was scared she might get hurt. Dr Susan Morris, a childrens radiologist, told the hearing the fractures to Chloes ribs would have been caused by an unusual amount of crushing pressure on her body. She also said other fractures to the childs legs and arms would have been caused by a twisting motion. She said: The fracture to the shoulder is an unusual one - Ive only ever seen it in books before. It requires an unusual kind of pressure - Im guessing it would be caused by swinging the child around by the arm. This injury is probably a non-accidental injury. Dr Morris said two skull fractures on the back of the head would have been caused by Chloe colliding with something hard. My Two Cents Seriously?!?! These evil monsters do this to an innocent little baby girl and NO GUILTY VERDICT WAS ENTERED!?!? What is wrong with these animals? Wait, I take that back...animals treat their own tons better then this!!! How can you force a baby of only two months old to walk and oh my gawd, forty fractures! I cannot imagine what sweet little Chloe was going through while her little tiny bones were being broken! Im sorry sweet Chloe that you did not receive the justice that you so richly deserved! >:( :( Rest In Peace, Angel Chloe!
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:35:33 +0000
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