'Unacceptable' delay on Wolverhampton baby death review as child protection bosses yet to speak to parents

Nine-month-old Rebecca died in January 2014 after being starved and deprived of medical care by her mother and father due to their religious beliefs.

Her parents Brian Kandare, 29 and Precious Kandare, 37, both of South Avenue, Wednesfield, were jailed in November for nine and a half years and eight years respectively after admitting manslaughter.

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board said that by that time an official probe into Rebecca's death was already under way and an action plan had been developed.

It was expected to be published last year, but safeguarding bosses at Wolverhampton council say it has been delayed as they have not yet spoken to her parents.

A prominent city councillor has described the hold up as 'unacceptable' and demanded the publication of the report 'as soon as possible'.

Bosses now say they expect the findings to be published before the end of the current financial year.

Labour Councillor Milkinder Jaspal said Dawn Williams, head of safeguarding at Wolverhampton council, had told him that although the bulk of the review had been completed, it has not been finalised as they have not yet spoken to Rebecca's parents.

"I was told this was due to the police investigation and the fact that the parents had been incarcerated," said Mr Jaspal, who is chair of the city's health and scrutiny panel.

"In short the people responsible for the serious care review have been unable to complete the job, despite it being more than two years since the baby died.

"This is completely unacceptable. There is a duty here to improve the situation for other families and youngsters. For that to happen this report should have been completed and published as a matter of urgency.

"It needs to see the light of day as soon as possible.

"I find it very worrying that our agencies are seemingly unable to work together effectively on an issue of such importance."

Wolverhampton council was unavailable for comment.

Baby Rebecca died of pneumonia as a result of malnourishment after being taken to Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital on January 6, 2014.

When the case was heard at Nottingham Crown Court last November prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said she was 'significantly underweight and severely malnourished' and that she weighed about the same as a three-month-old when she died.

Her parents were members of the Apostolic Church of God in Wolverhampton, which discouraged medical treatment. They believed 'evil spirits' were making her ill.

Three days before Rebecca died they handed over responsibility of the care of their sick daughter to a church midwife, believing in her 'supernatural healing powers'.