The parents of an 18-week-old baby girl found dead with extensive injuries including bite marks and fractures were jailed for more than ten years today.

Daniel Sheard, 24, and Lucy Damen, 22, were jailed for the 'wilful neglect' of tiny Kayleigh Sheard who was found dead in front of a gas fire by paramedics.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC ruled that there was "no excuse" for what Sheard and Damen had done by failing to secure medical attention for the baby girl.

He also condemned them for showing "no remorse" throughout the court proceedings.

Sentencing Sheard to six years and Damen to four and a half years, Judge Bayliss said: "You have both proved yourselves unfit to ever look after a child, in my opinion.

"This is certainly a case of serious neglect for a third of this child's short life."

Kayleigh was found in front of a gas fire on its highest setting, smothered in sudocrem with extensive burns to her face, that were determined to have been caused after death, in September 2013.

Her parents had "manipulated the scene" and tried to "cover up" the circumstances surrounding her death because of a fear of social services after Sheard had spent most of his young life in care.

Judge Bayliss said: "You did this I am sure because you were fearful of social services and because you were having problems financially and socially, causing you to care more about yourselves than your daughter's welfare.

"It led to a situation where you were deliberately concealing that child from the authorities."

Leeds Crown Court heard that up until the couple, from Heckmondwike, took Kayleigh for her first round of inoculations in July there had been no signs of neglect.

They pair, who have maintained their relationship since Kayleigh's death three years ago, had taken their tiny daughter to Dewsbury and District Hospital after noticing changes in her stool.

There, the doctor had noticed a bruise on her cheek, which was found to have been caused accidentally, and in June 2013 doctors referred her to social services.

Following that incident, Kayleigh suffered non-accidental fractures to her shoulder and arms and 16 fractured ribs and the pair did not seek medical attention.

Judge Bayliss said: "She [Kayleigh] suffered.

"She went from being a healthy, happy baby to a child whose weight had fallen to the bottom quartile.

"That child was failing to thrive.

"The cause of death was not ascertained.

"You are not being sentenced for being responsible for or having caused her death.

"I cannot neglect the circumstances around her death and the failure to seek medical attention.

"The criminal failure for which I must sentence you both - failure to take her to a doctor or hospital when she must have been in significant pain.

"It was, I am quite sure, deliberate."

Sheard and Damen were also sentenced for failing to take their young daughter for a second round of inoculations, failure to take her to a doctor when she suffered bruises, bite marks and rib fractures.

Kayleigh suffered a final rib fracture "less than 12 hours" before she died and Judge Bayliss said the "only explanation" was that Sheard had tried to perform CPR on the youngster.

Judge Bayliss said: "When you found her in a collapsed state, it was a clumsy attempt to resuscitate her.

"When you found her, albeit in a collapsed state, she was still alive.

"You tried to revive her but I am sure you both must have made a deliberate decision to not call an ambulance."

Judge Bayliss added: "Daniel Sheard, you appeared to take the lead and played the dominant role.

"You have shown absolutely no remorse.

"I sentence you to six years.

"Lucy Damen, you were completely indifferent towards the child and you have also showed little remorse.

"I sentence you to four and a half years."

Damen pleaded guilty to cruelty to a person under 16 and Sheard was found guilty of the same offence after trial.

A family statement said: "As a family we will never understand how or why Kayleigh was so badly mistreated by the two people who should have loved and cherished her most.


"Our grief has been prolonged for over three years whilst we patiently waited for the conclusion of the case. We would like to pass on our thanks to all those who have been involved in Kayleigh Mai’s case and who have now brought matters to a close.


"We will never be able to come to terms with the loss of Kayleigh, albeit her life was very short she gave us all joy. Our hope is now that justice has been done, Kayleigh Mai can rest in peace and we can all try and move on as a family."


Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "This has been a deeply tragic case where a four-month-old baby girl has lost her life before its even had chance to really begin.


"Kayleigh was subjected to horrendous treatment by the two people who were solely responsible for her care and wellbeing.

"Instead, they subjected her to abhorrent abuse and neglect which resulted in her appalling injuries. She must have been in absolute agony in the days until she died due to the injuries inflicted at the hands of Lucy Damen and Daniel Sheard.
"Both Damen and Sheard will now be given an appropriate custodial sentences for the offences they have committed and I believe justice has been served for Kayleigh in bringing this case before the courts."

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