London - The mother of a toddler who died alone lying face down in a pool of vomit was accused on Wednesday of ‘spinelessly’ lying about her daughter’s last hours to escape justice.
Heavy drinker Nikki Gooch, 29, left 19-month-old Autumn in her bedroom for several hours before finding her dead in her cot.
An inquest heard social workers had asked for her daughter to be taken into care but a family court judge turned down the application.
When paramedics turned up at her house, Autumn was found in a heavily soiled nappy, surrounded by mess including a bottle of congealed milk.
A post-mortem examination and police investigation failed to establish the exact cause of death or who was responsible – and officers admitted what happened during the tragic child’s last hours might never be known.
Gooch was arrested on suspicion of murder and was later charged with neglect. But the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.
Addressing Gooch during the inquest, her brother Darren, 31, suggested she smothered his niece, adding: ‘Do you want to be nice and give a little bit of justice? Because what you’re doing is wrong and [you] know this. How can you carry on lying? You have to tell the truth.’
And deputy Bedfordshire coroner Martin Oldham told the little girl’s extended family: ‘We have heard evidence from various parties... all of whom have tried to help – with the exception of the penultimate witness [Miss Gooch], who spent her time fabricating evidence and being unreliable.’
The family have severed all contact with Gooch, who her brother described as a ‘spineless and heartless human being’.
Autumn died on April 11 last year in the two-bedroom house in Maulden, Bedfordshire, she lived in with her mother.
Autumn Gooch 'died in a pool of her own vomit while her mother watched TV'
— News, Views, People. (@NVPeople) September 13, 2016
Gooch, who showed no emotion during the hearing, told Ampthill Coroners’ Court she had fed, bathed and changed Autumn that morning. But the inquest heard Autumn had soiled her nappy four times and appeared not to have been washed since the previous day.
Concerns were first raised about the child’s welfare in 2013 after Gooch was found drunk while caring for her older son. He was later taken into care and now lives with his father.
Then, on March 20 last year, Central Bedfordshire Council applied to have Autumn placed in foster care.
But Judge Lindsay Davies used the hearing to order Autumn’s father, heavy drinker Craig Macdonald, to leave the family home.
However, despite daily visits to Gooch, concerns continued and at the time of Autumn’s death the council was appealing Judge Davies’ decision.
Support workers reported finding up to ten bottles in her bed and soiled nappies and dirty clothes left lying around.
A senior family support worker said Gooch had ‘no motivation’ and an ‘unnatural’ relationship with her daughter.
Oldham said: ‘Despite the chaotic care from her mother I am unable to say anything about this and therefore is it appropriate to record an open verdict.’
Central Bedfordshire Local Safeguarding Children Board has begun a serious case review.
Daily Mail