A BABY who was left to die while her mother went out partying was not under the watch of social services, The Argus can reveal.
Despite teen mum Verphy Kudi’s troubled past, little Asiah was not on a child protection plan or being helped by social work services at the time of her death.
Kudi walked out on her daughter on the day she turned 18, partying for six days while the baby starved. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter yesterday afternoon.
The judge ordered all social services records relating to the case be disclosed to the defence ahead of sentencing on May 28.
A child protection plan (CPP) is a system drawn up by the local authority which sets out steps needed to safeguard a child.
A council will decide whether a CPP is needed based on known family history, including previous contact with agencies like healthcare professionals and social workers.
Kudi fell pregnant aged 15.
The pregnancy came amid a number of missing person appeals for her in the media.
Verphy Kudi
The court heard how the baby had been on a CPP.
However, the council revealed this was not in place at the time of Asiah’s death, nor was the child being helped by its social work services.
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We have been deeply saddened by this tragedy.
“The case is currently the subject of criminal proceedings, and the city’s Safeguarding Children Partnership is also conducting a review of the circumstances into the tragic death of this young child.
“We are undertaking an internal review, which will feed into the partnership review.
“Asiah was not on a child protection plan and was not involved with social work services when she died.
“It would not be appropriate for us to comment further while the criminal proceedings and reviews are ongoing.”
Kudi had been referred to “low-supported accommodation” with her daughter in Gochers Court, Islingwood Road, Hanover.
The “independent living flats” are run by YMCA DownsLink, a service commissioned by the council. Kudi and Asiah had been living there for 11 weeks when the 20-month-old died.
The building consists of one or two-bedroom self-contained flats with private kitchens.
YMCA DownsLink says it would typically provide 1 – 2 hours a week of housing-related support to residents referred into the service with low support needs.
In a statement issued yesterday, the service said: “This tragedy has shocked us all. Our staff, particularly those who work at Gocher Court, have been and continue to be, deeply affected by it.
“We will be working with the Safeguarding Practice Review to understand any lessons that can be learned from this tragedy.
“Our sympathies and thoughts are with the family and everyone affected by this tragic event.”
CCTV showed Kudi left her Islingword Road flat on December 5, 2019, leaving her daughter to become hungry and thirsty alone.
She did not return until December 11 when she called 999 to say her baby would not wake up.
Asiah was pronounced dead on arrival at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.
A few days later, staff at Gochers Court contacted police after reviewing CCTV footage.
Upon hearing the news yesterday, a source providing accommodation in the city said the case was “awful and tragic”.
They added: “Supported housing cannot be a cheap alternative to the child protection system.”
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