Cleveland police failed to arrest a man for breaching a non-molestation order 18 months before he murdered and sexually assaulted his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter, Teesside crown court has heard, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Cleveland police did not arrest the man for breaching a non-molestation order 18 months before the killing, the court heard.
- Isabelle Welsh, aged two, died on 14 September 2025 after what police described as a 'campaign of violence'.
- She collapsed at her home in Teesside after weeks of abuse.
- The court heard she had suffered bruising and 21 broken bones.
Cleveland police failed to arrest a man for breaching a non-molestation order 18 months before he murdered and sexually assaulted his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter, Teesside crown court has heard, according to the Guardian. The Guardian described the man as a paedophile.
The victim, Isabelle Welsh, died on 14 September 2025 after what police described as a ‘campaign of violence’ against her. She was two years old.
The court heard that Isabelle collapsed at her home in Teesside after suffering weeks of abuse, and that she had bruising and 21 broken bones.
The proceedings have drawn attention to the earlier failure by Cleveland police to arrest the man over the breach of the non-molestation order, which came 18 months before the child’s death.
The details were set out during proceedings at Teesside crown court, as reported by the Guardian. Further details of the proceedings, including any defence position, were not set out in the available source.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about how police respond to breaches of protective orders intended to safeguard vulnerable people, an issue likely to feature in any review of the force's handling of the matter.
Frequently asked questions
Who was the victim?
The victim was Isabelle Welsh, a two-year-old girl who died on 14 September 2025 at her home in Teesside.
What did Cleveland police fail to do?
According to the Guardian, Cleveland police failed to arrest the man for breaching a non-molestation order 18 months before he murdered the child.
What injuries did the child suffer?
The court heard that Isabelle suffered weeks of abuse that left her with a body covered in bruises and 21 broken bones.