'Failures' allowed babysitter to rape girl, five

A serious case review revealed a number of agencies failed to provide adequate protection for the child.

At the time of the attack, the man was receiving treatment and was being supervised by Cleveland Police and the National Probation Service Teesside and Durham.

The chairman of the Stockton-on-Tees Local Safeguarding Children Board, Jane Humphreys, said: "Speaking on behalf of all the agencies, we are profoundly sorry for our failures in this case.

"We particularly regret we did not provide the mother of this child with information to enable her to adequately protect her daughter.

"We are continuing to offer support to the family.

"The well-being of children is of utmost importance and we deeply regret the impact this case had on the child.

"We fully support the report's recommendations and will continue to work in partnership across all agencies to address the shortcomings highlighted to strengthen the services we offer."

The man, from Billingham, Teesside, was jailed for six years at Teesside Crown Court last year after admitting five counts of rape.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and banned from recreation centres and from having contact with children.

While in contact with the young girl, he was undergoing sex offender treatment as part of a two-year supervision order imposed after he admitted child pornography offences.

He was being jointly supervised by Cleveland Police and the National Probation Service.

Yesterday's report revealed there were clear failings by a number of agencies to consider the protection of the child and undertake a full assessment of risks.

"It is important to note that the girl's family were not known to any service prior to the arrest and conviction of the adult male," the report states.

However, it notes that "her views and those of her mother were not sought by any professional" and adds: "There were clear failures to consider the protection of the girl and undertake a full assessment at the point agencies became aware of the original offending.

"The seeking and sharing of information is fundamental to effective child protection."

Meanwhile, the death of a newborn girl at the hands of her father could have been prevented had information been shared about the risk he posed to children, a report said.

Opportunities to protect 25-day-old Tiffany Sellman Burdge from Christopher Sellman were missed by children's social services and health agencies, the report said.

Sellman, 24, had a conviction for assault and had hazard warning flags placed against him by authorities after being cautioned for child neglect before he was found guilty this week of killing Tiffany.

Relatives twice sought to alert agencies that Sellman's partner, Pamela Burdge, was pregnant with Tiffany, an executive summary of a serious case review by Kent Safeguarding Children Board said.

Tiffany died after suffering a fractured skull and bleeding to the brain.