Senior officer in Poppi Worthington case apologises, but defends actions in wake of damning report
A retired former police detective who led the "unstructured and disorganised" investigation into the death of 13-month-old Poppi Worthington has apologised for his "mistakes".
Ex-Detective Superintendent Mike Forrester told ITV News that he realised there were lessons to be learned - but insisted he could have successfully defended himself before a disciplinary panel.
He retired before any action could be taken against him in the wake of the toddler's death.
It follows a damning IPCC report criticising the police handing of the toddler's death, after a family court judge ruled she was probably sexually assaulted by her father Paul before her death - which he denies.
Police lost crucial evidence, such as the nappy Poppi was wearing when she died, the report found.
The case was then not investigated for nine months - despite there being enough evidence to make an arrest on the day the youngster died in December 2012.
Carl Gumsley, commissioner with the IPCC, criticised the "unstructured and disorganised" investigation, and said although there were suspicions over Poppi's death these were "just put to one side" and not pursued for months.
"This is an investigation that in my judgement was not fit for purpose," he added.
In the wake of the report, Cumbria Police apologised over their handling of the case.
Chief Constable Jerry Graham said the findings by the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) made for "uncomfortable reading".
"I am absolutely clear that the Constabulary's initial investigation fell well short of the standard that could, and should, have been expected," he added.
"I profoundly regret that we let Poppi and her family down and I offer a heartfelt apology for this."
The report also found that:
The scene at the family home was not secured when police arrived on the scene
This led to potentially crucial evidence, such as Poppi's last nappy, being lost or not collected by officers
The investigation was then delayed while the results of forensic reports came back
Samples were not sent for analysis until six months after Poppi's death
And no statements were taken from witnesses until almost a year after her death
Poppi's parents were not formally interviewed untl August 2013 and their mobile phone and social media accounts were never analysed
Then at the toddler's inquest, police gave differing accounts of what they thought had happened to her which contradicted medical experts
Initial views that Poppi may have been abused were also not passed onto the local authority as they should have been
Two senior officers who could have been found guilty of gross misconduct have since retired so no action can be taken
Speaking to ITV News on Friday, former Det Supt Forrester - one of two senior officers who led the investigation into Poppi's death - echoed his force's apology.
However, he said he did not accept that he "ignored" suspicions the toddler had been abused, insisting he only intended to wait until the full post mortem report was completed.
In hindsight, he told ITV News, he would have sent samples of for forensic analysis immediately - but said he did not realise the report would take so long to complete.
"We always had the sexual abuse at the heart of what we were doing," he said.
"But we had to determine what the cause of death was first."
He said he remained "confident" that had he had to face any disciplinary proceedings, he would have been able to defend his actions to the satisfaction of everybody involved.
"Nobody has deliberately done anything wrong, in my opinion," he added.
Poppi's death had been shrouded in secrecy with the civil court judgement by Mr Justice Peter Jackson kept private so as not to prejudice any criminal proceedings.
It is now able to be published after prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges.
The first inquest into Poppi's death took just seven minutes to declare the toddler's death 'unexplained'.
A second inquest is due to take place in Kendal, Cumbria in May.
In response to the report, lawyer Fiona McGhie, speaking on behalf of Poppi's mother - who cannot be named for legal reasons - said: "Poppi's mother is understandably deeply concerned by the findings of the IPCC.
"She has anxiously awaited answers as to what happened to Poppi on that fateful day.
"To learn that the actions of senior investigators within Cumbria Constabulary may have contributed to the agonising delays she has endured has left her deeply and profoundly disappointed and distressed.
"She hopes that the long-delayed inquest, now scheduled for May this year, will give her the answers she deserves and allow her to access justice so Poppi can be at peace."