Isabella Wheildon: Couple jailed over murder of toddler found dead in her pushchair

Undated handout photo issued by Suffolk Police of Isabella Wheildon. Former nursery worker Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, alongside boyfriend Scott Jeff, are appearing at Ipswich Crown Court accused of the murder of her two-year-old daughter. Emergency services found the youngster dead at a temporary housing unit run by Ipswich Borough Council in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, on June 30 last year. Issue date: Wednesday October 9, 2024.
Credit: Suffolk Police handout
Isabella Wheildon died at the hands of her mother and her then-partner in the summer of 2023. Credit: Handout/Suffolk Police
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A violent abuser has been jailed for at least 26 years for kicking a two-year-old girl to death, as the toddler's mother was sentenced to 10 years.

The body of little Isabella Wheildon - described by her father as "perfect in every way" - was found in a pushchair at a temporary housing unit in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, on 30 June 2023.

It is believed she died four days earlier and her mother and then-partner had continued to wheel her body around in a buggy - even going for a drinking session at the pub on the night they were arrested.

Scott Jeff, 24, of no fixed address had denied her murder but was found guilty after a seven-week trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Jeff, who jurors heard was regularly hitting and beating Isabella behind closed doors, was also found guilty of two counts of child cruelty.

On Friday, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 26 years, while Isabella's mother, former nursery worker Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The judge said Jeff took over potty training of Isabella who would sometimes wet herself and Jeff “couldn’t tolerate such accidents and began punishing her when they occurred”.

He said her injuries were concealed with a puffer jacket and sunglasses, with her arms fractured and her pelvis later “in effect shattered”.

Scott Jeff, right, was convicted of murder and Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell was cleared. Credit: Suffolk Police

Gleason-Mitchell, 24, from Bedfordshire, was cleared of murder but had already pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child and two counts of child cruelty.

During the trial, she told the court she was prepared to sacrifice the two-year-old to save her relationship with her partner.

Sentencing, the judge Mr Justice Neil Garnham said Gleason-Mitchell had been so concerned at saving her relationship with Jeff that she tolerated the abuse.

"You stood by and let that violence and abuse happen to your little girl," he said.

"You are an inarticulate, immature and frankly very weak individual and in Scott Jeff's company you were easily bullied and manipulated.

"You were so pathetically desperate to be with Scott Jeff that you allowed every maternal instinct to be subverted by Scott Jeff.

He added: "Isabella's killing has had a devastating effect on her family. Their lives will be permanently disfigured."

Isabella Wheildon with her mother Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell Credit: Instagram/ Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell

Suffolk Police said that the day after Isabella died, the couple were seen on CCTV on a trip to the shops which "shows them joking, apparently unaffected by what had just taken place".

"Over the course of the next three days they proceeded to carry on as 'normal', pushing Isabella's body around in a buggy," police said.

"This included getting the bus into town to go shopping and going to the pub."

Isabella suffered a catalogue of horrific injuries before her death, with prosecutor Sally Howes KC telling jurors during the trial that the toddler's likely cause of death was "either kicking or stamping".

Sasha Wass KC, for Gleason-Mitchell, said the defendant was “possibly not the most intelligent young lady” and a friend described her as “easily manipulated”.

She said Gleason-Mitchell “failed to protect her daughter”.

  • Rob Setchell reports for ITV News Anglia on the final days of Isabella Wheildon


Christopher Paxton KC, for Jeff, said the defendant’s “intention was to cause serious bodily harm” rather than to kill.

“There was a lack of pre-meditation,” he said, adding that Jeff was of previous good character and aged 22 at the time.

In a victim impact statement read by the prosecutor, Thomas Wheildon described his daughter Isabella as an “extension of me” adding: “I miss her every single day.”

He said she was “perfect in every way” and “loved going to visit farms and the zoo”.

Mr Wheildon said there was “something wonderful about seeing life in your child’s eyes, it’s exhilarating”.

“That light inside of me when I’m around Isabella is now gone forever,” he said.

Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell with her daughter during the four days they spent camping on Gorleston beach. Credit: Suffolk Police

Isabella’s paternal grandmother Michelle Wheildon said it “haunts me to think what was being done to her and how terrified she must have been”.

Her maternal grandmother Ann Mitchell, mother of Gleason-Mitchell, wept and said that “a large piece of me and my family has been taken”.

She said that “just to spend time with her” she goes to the crematorium with Isabella’s favourite crisps Wotsits, and Fruit Shoots, and “sits talking to her”.

Isabella’s aunt Jade Anglum said she was the “shining light of all of our lives”.

After the two defendants were led to the cells the judge praised the families for their dignified conduct through the trial.

Social services in Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have all confirmed that Isabella was known to them before her death, and a review is being carried out to identify any failings.

A statement on behalf of Central Bedfordshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnerships said that Isabella's family would be given a chance to contribute to the review now that the criminal proceedings had ended.

"This work is now being prioritised and will be completed as quickly as possible but at a pace the family are comfortable with.

"When the report is finalised, it will be published. However, to avoid delay in implementing learning, the draft recommendations have been shared with all the agencies involved."

The draft report has also been sent to the national group overseeing all safeguarding children's partnerships.

The spokesman added: "Again, all the safeguarding partnerships send our condolences to Isabella's family and our thoughts are with all those who knew and loved her at this extremely difficult time."


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