GARY ALLEN AND CLAIRE MORTON INVOLVED IN TRAGIC BABY DEATH IN BOURNMOOR AND PENSHAW

In December 2008, a heartbreaking case unfolded involving the tragic death of a five-month-old baby girl named Alisha Allen, whose life was cut short under circumstances that exposed significant failures within social services and family oversight. The incident took place in the North East of England, with the family residing initially in Penshaw, Sunderland, before relocating to Bournmoor, County Durham.

Alisha's parents, Gary Allen, aged 26, and Claire Morton, aged 31, were at the center of this tragic event. The family had been under the scrutiny of social services due to concerns about the child's safety and well-being. However, a series of administrative and procedural errors allowed the family to move just two miles from Penshaw to Bournmoor, effectively removing Alisha from the child protection register that monitors children at risk of harm. This move was a critical factor in the failure to protect her, as it resulted in her case being downgraded from a high-risk category to merely 'in need,' despite ongoing concerns.

According to an official inquiry report, the transfer of the case between Sunderland social workers and Durham social workers was marked by poor assessment, inadequate planning, and a lack of effective information sharing among agencies. The report highlighted that these systemic failures were compounded by insufficient supervision of the family and poor case management by social workers. The lack of communication and coordination between different organizations involved in Alisha's welfare echoed the issues that had come to light following the tragic death of Victoria Climbié in 2000, which had prompted widespread reforms aimed at ensuring better inter-agency cooperation.

Alisha's father, Gary Allen, was later convicted of manslaughter in September and sentenced to five years in prison. During his trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Allen admitted that he lost his temper with the baby, which ultimately led to her death. His partner, Claire Morton, received a 12-month suspended sentence for her role in causing or allowing the child's death. Judge David Hodson, presiding over the case, expressed profound regret over the systemic failures, stating,