Isabella Wheildon murder trial: Scott Jeff and Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell were concerned two-year-old would be taken away from them before her death
A couple accused of murdering a two-year-old girl in Ipswich were concerned the child would be taken away from them in the weeks leading up to her death, a murder trial has heard.
The trial of Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and Scott Jeff, both 24 and of no fixed address, but formerly of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, continues at Ipswich Crown Court.
The couple stand accused of the murder of two-year-old Isabella Wheildon, after her body was discovered at East Villa, a council-run temporary housing unit in Sidegate Lane on June 30, 2023.
Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff spent time homeless and living in a tent on the beach at Caister-on-Sea, before being lodged at Wild Duck Caravan Park, in Belton, Great Yarmouth, on June 16.
They stayed until June 19, when they moved to East Villa.
Police visited the pair while they were camped at Caister Beach, the court heard, with Jeff alleging that officers threatened to place Isabella in protective custody unless they secured lodgings.
In a Facebook message sent to a friend, Jeff said he told officers ‘you ain’t taking my kid’. He said he ‘snatched’ Isabella from a police car, telling officers ‘you ain’t’.
The jury were shown multiple CCTV images and phone videos taken during their stay at Wild Duck.
All showed Isabella wearing a puffer jacket with its hood up and sunglasses, while in a pushchair.
Other CCTV images showed Scott or Gleason-Mitchell walking around the park without Isabella.
On June 18, Gleason-Mitchell messaged friends, asking if she could borrow money to find somewhere to stay, telling them officers threatened to take Isabella away.
The court was also shown videos of Isabella which Scott had filmed.
In one, Scott is seen smoking a cigarette while listening to rap music, urging Isabella to make gang symbols, yelling ‘gangster, gang, gang’.
Gleason-Mitchell’s mother also contacted Jeff during this period, asking if she could see her daughter and granddaughter.
Both Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff were in contact with the housing departments at Central Bedfordshire Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Ipswich Borough Council, the court was told
Mother and child were offered a place at a women’s refuge, but Gleason-Mitchell turned it down as it meant Jeff would not be housed.
Google searches Jeff made during this time included: ‘can a council split up a child from their parents’ and ‘can a council split up a child from their parents when housing a family’.
The pair were not eligible for housing in Great Yarmouth, having previously turned down lodgings in Bedfordshire.
Jeff then made an emergency appeal to Ipswich Borough Council, which led to them being housed at East Villa.
Chloe Smith, a sales advisor who worked at Wild Duck, was in contact with the couple while they stayed at the park.
She first met them on June 17 after taking food to their caravan.
Ms Smith said Isabella was wearing a puffer coat, with a hood, and sunglasses when she saw her.
Vanessa Bird, a receptionist at the park, helped Ms Smith offer the pair a lift to Great Yarmouth Station on June 19 so they could travel to Ipswich.
In her witness statement, she said she was not aware of Gleason-Mitchell, Jeff, or Isabella’s names at the time.
The statement read: “I saw Isabella was in a car seat in Chloe's car. As I arrived, Chelsea was inside the caravan while Scott was outside smoking cigarette. Chloe was moving things around.
“I did not go in. I said hello and Chloe introduced me to Scott and I said I was there to help. He shook my hand, with Scott saying how they had a flat and everything was going to work out.
“At the rear door of Chloe’s car I spoke to Isabella asking if she had a nice time. She turned her head to me but did not say anything. She was wearing sunglasses so I couldn’t see her eyes. She didn’t have an expression on her face.”
Ms Bird said Isabella was wearing a long white top and beige leggings with nothing on her feet. She also could not see any bruises or marks on her body.
She described Gleason-Mitchell as ‘fine and normal’ but her appearance was ‘a bit untidy’.
Between them, the couple were accused of eight offences, with each charged with one count of murder, one of causing or allowing the death of a child, one of cruelty to a child under 16 in relation to cocaine plus one of cruelty to a child under 16 with relation to cannabis.
Gleason-Mitchell pleaded not guilty to murder, but admitted all other charges. Jeff pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Isabella’s cause of death was certified as a bone marrow embolism caused by skeletal trauma.
Sally Howes, prosecuting, attributed this to physical abuse, namely kicking or stamping, by Jeff.
Ms Howes believes Isabella died on June 26, 2023, after being subjected to a ‘regime of brutality’ which resulted in her death.
Isabella was also found to have traces of cocaine and cannabis in her system.
A friend of Gleason-Mitchell’s previously told the court of her shock after learning of the Isabella’s death.
The trial continues.
