Life sentence for mother who killed 2-year-old daughter

A mother who suffocated her daughter to death has been sentenced to 16 years.

Cody-Anne Jackson, 20, initially denied murder, but changed her plea part-way through her trial earlier this month.

Jackson was told by Judge Michael Chamber, sitting at Stafford Crown Court today (July 27), she had committed a "wicked and appalling act."

Jackson initially denied murder, but changed her plea part-way through her trial earlier this month.

The court earlier heard during the trial that Jackson had called emergency services to her home address in Packett Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent on 10 October 2016, saying her daughter was having difficulty breathing.

She was given CPR instructions over the phone however, when she made the call Macey had been dead for several hours.

  • Credit: Staffordshire Police

Police officers and medical experts, including forensic pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar said that Macey may have died after being smothered or having some pressure applied to her neck. He told the court the exact cause of Macey’s death had not been ascertained.

Jackson claimed she woke up and found Macey next to her in bed, in between two pillows. She said that Macey's body was cold.

Dr Kolar said it was impossible to give an exact time of death, but evidence pointed to it being at least 30 minutes before the emergency services were on the scene.

The court also heard that Macey’s father, Paul Hogan, had ended the relationship with Jackson a week before two-year-old Macey’s death.

Jackson sent Mr Hogan a message that read: “Sorry, just thought you deserved one last picture and memory of her.”

His Honour Judge Michael Chambers, said:

Jackson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation to serve 16 years and 114 days.

Detective Inspector Dan Ison, of Staffordshire Police, said:

The NSPCC has also issued a statement in response to the sentencing of Cody-Anne Jackson at Stafford Crown Court: