HELEN CAUDWELL FROM CHEADLE HEATH SENTENCED FOR MURDERING DAUGHTER WITH PIGLET TOY IN STOCKPORT

In a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the community of Cheadle Heath and the wider Greater Manchester area, Helen Caudwell, aged 42, was convicted of the murder of her three-year-old daughter, Bethany. The incident occurred at Caudwell's residence in Stockport on October 2 of the previous year, leading to a series of heartbreaking revelations during her trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Caudwell, who resided on Redwood Close in Cheadle Heath, had initially denied the charge of murder. However, the court heard compelling evidence that ultimately led to her conviction. Judge Clement Goldstone QC sentenced her to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of eight years before she could be considered for parole.

Throughout the proceedings, it was revealed that Caudwell had been living a double life, engaging in deception regarding the paternity of her daughter. Two men, Miles Kennerley and Mark Davies, believed they were Bethany's father. It was only after Bethany's death that DNA tests confirmed that Mark Davies was indeed her biological father. The court heard that Caudwell had lied to both men, creating a web of deceit that added to the tragedy.

During her sentencing, Judge Goldstone addressed Caudwell directly, stating, “Depressed you may have been but you were, as the jury found, responsible for your actions.” He emphasized the profound pain and grief caused to Bethany’s loved ones, including both Mr Kennerley and Mr Davies. The judge pointed out that Caudwell’s actions had inflicted “indescribable pain and grief” on those who cared for Bethany, highlighting the betrayal involved in her deception.

On October 3, a colleague from Morrisons contacted Caudwell after she failed to show up for work. During this call, Caudwell shockingly admitted, “I won’t have a job anymore. I have done something stupid. I have suffocated Bethany.” Following this confession, colleagues rushed to her flat and discovered the young girl dead in her bed. Bethany was found with her Piglet cuddly toy lying beside her, which was later tested and found to contain her blood and saliva, indicating it was involved in the tragic act.

Caudwell, who was also a mother to three teenage children, was found to have attempted to take her own life by slashing her wrists. She was subsequently hospitalized. During her police interview, she was heard to say, “I couldn’t let him take her,” referencing her fears about her partner or the men involved in her life. She also left a note expressing her anguish, stating she could not endure the thought of Mr Kennerley “making her life a misery like he did mine.”

In her defense, Caudwell claimed diminished responsibility, asserting that she was suffering from an “abnormality of the mind” at the time of the killing. The court heard that she had become pregnant with Bethany in 2005 while still married to her first husband, Ian Caudwell. During this period, she was involved in affairs with both Mark Davies and Miles Kennerley. She later married Mr Kennerley but was in the process of divorcing him when she committed the act.

In the months leading up to Bethany’s death, Caudwell exhibited signs of depression, particularly concerning her marriage and fears of losing custody of her daughter. She made disturbing comments about not wanting Mr Kennerley to have access to Bethany and expressed suicidal thoughts, indicating her mental state was severely compromised at the time of the tragedy.