A former nursery worker accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter told a friend after the child died that we cant call the police as she developed bruises and we will get done for it, a court heard.
Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and her then boyfriend Scott Jeff, both aged 24, are accused of murdering Isabella Wheildon as part of a campaign of abuse last year.
The toddler was found dead in the locked bathroom of a temporary housing unit in Ipswich on June 30, 2023.
Today a friend of Gleason-Mitchell claimed that Isabellas mother was a really nice girl who was down to earth and loved her daughter to bits.
Joanne Gardener told Ipswich Crown Court today that the defendant was someone who could be bullied and claimed Gleason-Mitchell had admitted that there were bruises on Isabella.
Isabella Wheildon, two, who was found dead at a homeless unit in Ipswich, Suffolk, pictured with her mother Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell who denies her murder
Gleason-Mitchell (pictured) and Jeff were arrested on suspicion of murder in Bury St Edmunds in the early hours of July 1
Ms Gardener said they met at temporary accommodation at Sandy in Bedfordshire some time after Miss Gardner arrived there in July 2021 and had remained in touch through messaging afterwards.
Ms Gardner also told the court that Gleason-Mitchell was in a relationship with Isabellas father, Thomas Wheildon, the time they first met.
I couldnt fault them - they were brilliant parents, they loved her to bits, Miss Gardner said.
She said that in May 2023 Gleason-Mitchell messaged her to say she and Mr Wheildon were no longer together.
Ms Gardner then added that Gleason-Mitchell had asked her for money at a later date, asking for £60 due to having nowhere to stay tonight with Isabella.
Of no fixed address, Gleason-Mitchell had told Ms Gardener that she was in Great Yarmouth but the council were refusing to provide her with accommodation, meaning she may have to return to her home county of Bedfordshire.
Ms Gardener then informed the court that the next time she heard from Gleason-Mitchell was when she told her that Isabella was dead.
Isabella was found in her pushchair inside a locked bathroom before being declared dead at the scene
Scott Jeff also denies the murder of Isabella. He is standing trial at Ipswich Crown Court along with Isabellas mother
That message received by Ms Gardener was then read out before the court, in which Gleason-Mitchell said: We cant call the police as she developed bruises and we will get done for it.
In a further voice note sent by Gleason-Mitchell, she could be heard saying: I feel like were just going to bury her and hope for the best.
Ms Gardener went on to tell the court that Gleason-Mitchell claimed Thomas Wheildon was not Isabellas father and that it was in fact her new boyfriend Scott Jeff.
Gleason-Mitchell then asked Ms Gardener to delete the messages and gave her the impression that the police were there.
Ms Gardener called emergency services at roughly 10.50am on June 30th of last year and subsequently dialed 999 15 minutes or so later to report her concerns.
Isabellas body was discovered on June 30 after a friend of Gleason-Mitchell reported getting a message from her, saying that her daughter had died in her sleep
Alex Kettle-Williams, prosecuting, went on to tell the court how police attended the temporary housing unit in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich at 1.07pm the same day.
She said Ms Gardner had reported to police that Gleason-Mitchell had told her that her daughter had died three days ago and was still in her pushchair.
Escorted by a hostel officer, police noted the flat to be empty, the bathroom door to be shut and locked, the barrister said.
She said a police officer noted a strong stale smell and a pushchair with several blankets over it pushed into the shower.
When he removed the last blanket he saw the face of a young child, she said.
Isabella was officially pronounced dead at 1.20pm.
Both Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff deny murdering the toddler, with Jeff also denying one count of causing or allowing the death of a child and two counts of child cruelty.
However, jurors were told that Gleason-Mitchell had previously admitted to causing or allowing the death of her child and to two counts of child cruelty.
Sasha Wass KC, for Gleason-Mitchell, asked Ms Gardner if Gleason-Mitchell was somebody who could be bullied, and she replied yes.
Christopher Paxton KC, for Jeff, asked Ms Gardner: If you dont know Scott Jeff you dont know anything about his character, do you?
She replied: No I dont.
The trial continues.