A WOMAN has been jailed for life for the murder of her seven-month-old baby daughter.

Jennifer Crichton, 35, of Slater Lane, Leyland, was convicted in February after a trial at Preston Crown Court

She was also found guilty of three counts of Section 18 assault and an offence of child neglect. These offences were committed some years ago in relation to another child.

At Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday she was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years and six months for murder.

She was given 11 years for the three assaults and nine months for neglect, to run concurrent.

Police were called by the Ambulance Service in the early hours of Wednesday, April 19th last year after they attended an address on Slater Lane where seven month old Amelia Crichton had been found unresponsive.

The baby suffered cardiac arrest and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital but later transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital where she sadly died on April 21st.

A post mortem examination revealed that the child died as a result of head injuries.

Detective Inspector Simon Cheyte said: “I am satisfied with the sentence which reflects the gravity of Jennifer Crichton’s offences.

“Jennifer Crichton has never given a satisfactory account of what happened at the address on that fateful night and we may never know exactly what happened which led to Amelia’s injuries. What is clear is that that she suffered catastrophic and deliberate injuries which she could not survive and the only person who could have caused those injuries is Jennifer Crichton.

“The person who should not be forgotten in this is Amelia. She should have been able to look to her mother for the protection and love of a parent. Instead this defenceless child found herself subjected to horrendous abuse and the injuries which led to her death.

“My thoughts remain with the wider family of baby Amelia, and the other victim, who have been through so much over the last year. I hope that this sentence can offer them some comfort as they try to move on with their lives.

“Getting to this point has been a great team effort from all involved and I am pleased that we have got justice for Amelia and finally for the other child after all these years.”