Elaine Clarke, 49, of Garden Terrace, Blackpool, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after previously admitting to the gross negligence manslaughter of her daughter Debbie Leitch, who had Down’s Syndrome.
24 year old Debbie was found dead in her bedroom in August 2019
Ambulance crews found faeces on the floor, as well as maggots crawling in her room.
They spoke with Clarke, who said she knew Debbie had died around 8pm, but waited before calling 999.
Police were called, with four people, including Clarke, arrested at the time and later bailed while enquiries continued.
A major investigation was launched and found Debbie and Clarke had moved to Blackpool in 2016.
Two years later Debbie was diagnosed with eczema and Norwegian Scabies. She received treatment for this as an outpatient and was prescribed medication. Instructions were given to her mother as to how and when she needed to administer this.
In 2019, relatives visiting the address noticed Debbie had lost weight and her skin condition had worsened. A family member visited the address in July 2019 and went into Debbie’s room. She later told police the room smelt of filth, with plates of mouldy food on the floor. Debbie’s skin condition had severely worsened, with the relative urging Clarke to take Debbie to the doctors. She later phoned Clarke, who claimed Debbie was eating, talking and had had a shower.
A few weeks later the same family member returned to the property. Debbie’s condition had worsened again, with the relative later telling police she appeared ‘half-dead’. She told officers Debbie’s room resembled a horror movie, with the smell unbearable, including plates of rotting food and bags of dirty, soiled clothes. She was so concerned she phoned Debbie’s doctor, as well as social services, for support.
A doctor later made a home visit and said he felt Clarke was supportive and had no safeguarding concerns. Debbie was sat on the sofa and had been showered. Clarke dismissed the concerns raised, with the doctor prescribing further medication for Debbie’s skin. The doctor subsequently made unsuccessful attempts to visit Debbie and speak with her mother, who made no attempts herself to seek further medical intervention.
Social services attended the address twice on July 29, 2019, but were prevented from entering the property by a relative of Debbie’s. On August 1, 2019, social services returned. Debbie was downstairs, waiting, while the worker visited her bedroom and noted nothing of concern.
Other visitors to the address in the weeks before Debbie’s death asked after her, but Clarke said she wasn’t well and they couldn’t see her. The visitors said they could hear Debbie crying and calling for mummy. She was found dead days later.
A Home Office post-mortem examination gave Debbie’s cause of death as severe emaciation and neglect with extensive scabies skin infection. This left Debbie in such pain she was often heard crying and pleading for help. The pathologist found Debbie weighed 23kg – 3st 10lbs – at the time of her death. Mites were found on her body and clothing, with faeces and urine across her body. Her skin and body had wasted away, with her bones visible.
Clarke later received summons to appear at court to answer the charge of gross negligence manslaughter, pleading guilty.
A man was also given summons for the offence of allowing or causing the death of a vulnerable adult but, following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, it was decided he would no longer face trial, with no evidence offered. The remaining people were released without charge.
Clarke was jailed for nine years and seven months.
Det Ch Insp Lee Wilson, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “In my time working as a police officer, this remains one of the most difficult and tragic cases I have investigated. This case affected everyone who worked on it, from the first North West Ambulance Service and police responders, to detectives, colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service and barristers. It will live long in the memory sadly.
“Debbie’s death was wholly avoidable. She should be alive and well, living a good and happy life today. That she isn’t lies firmly at the feet of the one person upon whom she relied – her mother, her paid carer.
“We know Debbie came to Blackpool having been a happy, thriving college student. Sadly, in just a few years, she was let down in the most extreme manner by the dark and malevolent personality that is Elaine Clarke. Clarke has shown no remorse at any stage in this lengthy investigation – any tears she has shed were, I am convinced, for the predicament she now finds herself in. She is truly a despicable individual.
“Debbie had her life ahead of her. She required regular help and attention, and craved affection and love from her mother whom despite everything done to her she clearly doted on and loved. That support was coldly withheld as Clarke prioritised her own needs.
“It is clear Clarke made deliberate choices to leave Debbie to her own devices, effectively abandoning her to her fate. This, even though they lived in the same house. Debbie was left in abject squalor – left to die in a faeces-laden, maggot-infested bedroom, with plates of rotting food. Debbie was rarely changed and showered – in fact only when it came to covering up what was going on and concealing the truth of the situation.
“When she knew visitors were coming from social services, or local doctors, Clarke would tidy up, wash Debbie and make it appear all was well. When they left, she would leave Debbie in her room, often crying, calling for her mummy.
“The evidence provided by witnesses including family members was vital in establishing the behaviour of Clarke, who is clearly a liar, as well as being very manipulative and cruel.
“Today’s sentencing brings to the end a most tragic investigation and my thoughts remain with Debbie’s wider family, who I know miss her dearly. I should also like to thank colleagues who attended the scene, the investigation team and legal team for their fortitude and determination to get the justice Debbie deserves.”
