A NEWENT woman has been jailed for 15 years for the manslaughter of her four-month-old daughter after violently shaking her on more than one occasion.

Melissa Wilband, 28, had denied killing Lexi Wilband, but jurors found her guilty following a four-week trial at Bristol Crown Court in March this year.

The jury heard that Lexi collapsed at her home in Mantley Grove, on April 12, 2020, but died in hospital six days later.

Medical experts explained to the jury how Lexi had died following catastrophic brain injuries which was consistent with being shaken.

In passing sentence, the judge, Mr Justice Saini told Wilband: "Lexi was about four months old when she died. She was a healthy baby.

"You killed Lexi by violently shaking her on the evening of Easter Sunday, in the family home in Newent. Why you shook Lexi will only be known to you.

"The evidence at trial showed that the fatal shaking of Lexi was not the first time you abused her in this way.

"It is hard to imagine the pain which Lexi must have suffered as a result of both this historic violence and the violent shaking which led to her death."

Justice Saini also commended the police investigation team saying they had dealt with the case "with great sensitivity and dignity".

Wilband's boyfriend at the time, Jack Wheeler, 31, had also been charged with manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child. However, the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence for the manslaughter charge while the jury found him not guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Prosecutor Jane Osbourne KC explained to the jury that Wilband told a spiral of lies, including how she faked a paternity test to falsely claim Mr Wheeler was Lexi's biological father, which he wasn’t.

Wilband took cocaine throughout her pregnancy and afterwards – there was evidence that she took cocaine six days after Lexi was born.

On the night Lexi collapsed, the court was told that Wilband did not call 999 for an ambulance but instead dialled 111 - the non-emergency NHS number.

But when paramedics did attend Wilband’s address, she lied to them about the circumstances that led to Lexi's collapse. She continued to repeatedly lie to doctors at the hospital.

In his initial account to police, Mr Wheeler went along with what Wilband had told him to say. However, he changed that account in subsequent interviews and in his evidence in court.

Speaking after Wilband had been sentenced, Detective Inspector Adam Stacey said: "Lexi should have had her whole life ahead of her, but that was taken away by someone who was meant to be protecting and caring for her, her mother.

"This case has been difficult and incredibly upsetting for all involved. She relentlessly lied to everyone – family and friends, even to medical professionals who were trying to save Lexi's life, and continued these lies to the police and while giving evidence in court.

“The jury saw through these lies and she's now beginning a lengthy custodial sentence."