Call for more jail for mother convicted of daughter's death

In February, Elaine Clarke confessed to killing Debbie Leitch, 24, who had Down's syndrome. She died from severe emaciation and neglect.

The family, who previously lived in Hastings, had been well-known to social services in East Sussex and there were concerns about Clarke's parenting skills and those of various partners, John Harrison QC told Preston Crown Court.

Clarke, 49, was convicted of gross negligent manslaughter and the judge said she abandoned Debbie "to die in pain, without nourishment in the most awful surroundings.”

Now, MP for Hastings Sally-Ann Hart is calling on the Attorney General to increase the nine years and seven months jail sentence.

On March 24, Attorney General Suella Braverman told MPs that Clarke’s term has been reviewed under the unduly lenient sentence scheme and referred to the Court of Appeal, which will now decide whether to increase it.

MP Scott Benton of Blackpool South told the Commons: “The Attorney General will be aware of the horrendous case of my constituent Debbie Leitch, who died at the hands of her mother, Elaine Clarke, who has been sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison for her appalling actions.

“Will Ms Braverman meet with me and Sally-Ann Hart, Conservative MP for Hastings and Rye, following our recent letter to discuss this case with a view to seeing whether the sentence issued is unduly lenient?”

Ms Braverman replied: “This indeed is a tragic case and I extend my sympathies to all those who knew and loved Debbie.

“I thank you and Ms Hart for bringing this to the attention of the law officers.

“The sentence imposed has been reviewed with the utmost care by the Solicitor General and he has decided to refer it to the Court of Appeal.

“It is now a matter for the court to decide whether to increase the sentence.”

Ms Hart said: “I strongly welcome the Attorney General’s response in the House today and the decision to refer this serious case to the Court of Appeal following a joint letter sent to her about it from myself and my colleague Scott Benton MP.

“This is an abhorrent case of wilful neglect and it demands closer examination as regards sentencing.”

A post-mortem examination found Debbie had an extensive scabies skin infection.

During the trial, Mr Harrison said Debbie had been dependent on mother-of-four Clarke, who was registered and paid as her carer as each of her children had learning or physical difficulties.

In 2014, the family moved from Hastings to Leeds to live with Clarke’s new boyfriend Robert Bruce, and where Debbie used daycare services.

Debbie was described by a support worker as “shy, cheeky and willing to give anything a go”.

The family moved again in August 2016 to Garden Terrace in Blackpool, but Debbie did not access any daycare activities.

Debbie Leitch

In April 2018, she was treated in hospital for Norwegian scabies, a condition associated with neglect, but follow-up appointments were not kept which would have alleviated her pain and discomfort with “relative ease”.

Family members and friends who visited her home later that year noticed signs that Debbie was in pain from her skin condition.

When confronted by her sister, Clarke told her to “mind her own business”, Mr Harrison said.

During a visit in April 2019, Debbie's cousin went up to her bedroom and saw her huddled on her bed.

She was crying for her mother saying her feet were sore, her hair appeared to have been hacked off and her skin was red and cracked, Mr Harrison said.

• READ MORE: Mother jailed after abandoning Down’s syndrome daughter to die alone

In June 2019, Clarke phoned her GP and was prescribed cream and antibiotics after she said her daughter had scabies and was unable to walk to the surgery.

Clarke cancelled a number of appointments with medical experts.

Mr Harrison said: “The defendant must have realised Debbie’s physical condition and presentation would raise concerns and made efforts to hide her true condition from the authorities.”

Social services intended to visit their home on September 2, 2019, days before Debbie's body was found on August 29.