DENNIS HENRY AND LEANNE LABONTE FROM PLAISTOW SENTENCED FOR THE MURDER OF YOUNG AINLEE WALKER IN EAST LONDON

In a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the community of Plaistow in east London, a jury at the Old Bailey has found Dennis Henry, aged 39, and Leanne Labonte, aged 20, guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty in connection with the death of their young daughter, Ainlee Walker. The heartbreaking details of her death and the circumstances leading up to it have painted a grim picture of neglect and abuse that ultimately proved fatal.

On January 7 of this year, authorities discovered Ainlee's lifeless body on a table within the couple’s flat located in Plaistow. The child's body bore the marks of severe abuse, with a total of 64 injuries documented, including cigarette burns, bruises, and scratches. The court was told that the injuries were inflicted over a period of time, revealing a sustained campaign of violence and neglect.

Both defendants initially blamed each other for the injuries, which shocked the court. The prosecution highlighted the extent of the abuse, with prosecutor Ann Curnow QC describing Ainlee as having been subjected to a “campaign of torture.” When she died, the child weighed only 21 pounds, a stark indicator of her severe malnutrition. Witnesses and medical experts testified that Ainlee had been so neglected that she resembled a famine victim, with her last weeks marked by minimal feeding and virtually no care.

During the trial, it was revealed that social services in Newham had been aware of Ainlee’s situation. The child had been subject to home visits and case reviews, and there had been considerations to place her on the child protection register when she was less than a year old. Despite these interventions, the court heard that her care had deteriorated significantly, especially in the weeks leading up to her death.

Professor Jonathan Sibert, a child specialist, described the neglect as “horrendous,” stating that it was the most appalling case of child neglect he had encountered. Pathologist Dr. David Rouse detailed the extent of Ainlee’s injuries, which took two hours to list. Among the injuries were ten cigarette burns and scalded feet, where she had been forced to stand in hot water. The evidence painted a picture of systematic abuse and neglect that ultimately led to her tragic demise.

During sentencing, Leanne Labonte broke down in tears, while Judge Mr. Justice Leveson emphasized the overwhelming evidence of cruelty. He stated that Ainlee had “lost the will to live” and that both defendants were complicit in her suffering. The judge made it clear that the injuries inflicted were so severe that it was impossible to distinguish the roles of each in the abuse, concluding that they had acted together in causing her death.

Following the tragedy, the couple’s other two children have been placed in the care of Newham social services. A comprehensive multi-agency review is now underway to examine the circumstances surrounding Ainlee’s death and to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.

It was also revealed that Labonte had previously been cautioned by police in 1999 for neglecting another child. The family had initially been placed in a residential unit designed to support their parenting skills but left just six days after Ainlee was born. By 2001, social services had closed their case due to non-cooperation from Henry and Labonte. The family had been removed from two general practitioner registers, and there had been two home visits by doctors under police escort. There were reports of threats of violence towards hospital staff, and Labonte was accused of stealing medical records on at least two occasions. Despite these issues, there was no evidence of abuse towards Ainlee until her last known sighting in August 2001.

Kathryn Hudson, head of Newham Social Services and chair of the Child Protection Committee, expressed her regret over the tragedy, stating, “We are very sorry about Ainlee’s death.” She acknowledged the difficulties faced by social services in such cases, especially when families manipulate and deceive authorities. She emphasized that maintaining focus on the child's welfare is crucial, and regrettably, in this case, those standards were not upheld.