TINA WHITE AND COLIN SLEATE FROM HUCKNALL SENTENCED FOR CHILD'S MANSLAUGHTER AND CRUELTY

In a tragic case that has shocked the community of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, a mother and her partner have been held accountable for the brutal treatment and subsequent death of a young girl. Tina White, aged 22, was sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of her three-year-old daughter, Leanne. The court heard that Leanne suffered from an astonishing 107 separate injuries on her tiny body, injuries that painted a grim picture of a life filled with suffering and neglect.

Leanne’s stepfather, Colin Sleate, aged 29, also from Hucknall, was sentenced last week to life imprisonment after a three-week trial concluded with a guilty verdict on charges of murdering the young girl. During the sentencing hearing, Sleate was also given a concurrent sentence of seven years for child cruelty, which will run alongside his life sentence. Tina White received a concurrent six-year term for her role in the abuse.

Judge Mr. Justice Tudor Evans, rejecting pleas for leniency from the defense, emphasized the severity of the evidence presented. He stated, “The evidence shows that the child was repeatedly struck by both of you. There was very strong evidence indeed that Tina White terrified her daughter. This abuse went on night after night for months, with screaming and swearing directed at the child.”

The judge further condemned the defendants’ failure to protect Leanne, highlighting that seven members of the public had reported hearing the abuse and had felt compelled to inform social services. Despite knowing what was happening, neither Tina White nor Colin Sleate took any action to shield the young girl from harm.

It was revealed that Leanne was a healthy, lively, and cheerful girl until Sleate moved into her mother’s home in November 1991. The tragic circumstances surrounding her death have prompted calls for a public inquiry into the apparent failure of Nottinghamshire Social Services to intervene and prevent the tragedy. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Hucknall, raising serious questions about child protection and social care responsibilities in the area.