Paul Worthington, 49, will be forced to live in hiding after a judge made public the conclusion that he sexually abused 13-month-old Poppi hours before her death
Though he appears to have escaped prosecution over the sexual abuse of his daughter, Paul Worthington is a hunted man.
The former supermarket worker may have to live the rest of his life with a new identity – something that could cost the taxpayer as much as £50,000 a year.
The 49-year-old was forced to live in hiding after a judge made public the conclusion that Worthington abused 13-month-old Poppi hours before her death.
He appeared before the fresh inquest into Poppi’s death at Kendal Coroner’s Court, Cumbria – but had to be accompanied by two police officers armed with Tasers. Worthington was also allowed to give evidence while shielded from the public.
The father appeared to make every effort to avoid saying anything that could help reveal how and why Poppi died.
During the hearing, he declined to answer questions 252 times, routinely responding: ‘I rely on the right not to answer under Rule 22.’ This allows witnesses at inquests to avoid saying anything that could incriminate them. But coroner David Roberts still found flaws in the father’s evidence.
For example, Worthington – who denies any wrongdoing – had misled medical workers at Furness General Hospital into thinking that constipation may have contributed to Poppi’s death.
The father appeared to make every effort to avoid saying anything that could help reveal how and how Poppi (pictured) died
Mr Roberts said the accounts Worthington had given since the tragedy ‘differ and raise concerning questions’.
Among these were elements of Worthington’s account of Poppi’s final hours which he said were ‘not credible’.
Poppi Worthington woke up screaming at about 5.30am in 2012 at the family home
He found of Worthington: ‘Whilst parts of his previous accounts may be true, I cannot rely upon any one of them as providing a complete and truthful history of what took place between his taking Poppi from her cot and her death.’
Worthington may once have believed he would escape unscathed from Poppi’s death.
It was not until eight months after the day she died that Worthington was arrested and questioned by police.
And, after errors in the police investigation, there was not enough evidence to charge him.
In autumn 2014, Cumbria council was still trying to keep everything about the death – including Poppi’s name, the town she lived in and all public agencies involved – secret.
Only in January 2016 was a damning fact-finding ruling by High Court judge Mr Justice Jackson made public. It concluded that Worthington had perpetrated a brutal assault on Poppi before she died.
The only clue to Worthington’s life was given by his barrister Paul Clark, who said: ‘He has been in a long-term position of great vulnerability and risk and as a result has been in a long-term position of witness protection whereby his current appearance and location are not known.’
Witness protection is usually provided for those giving evidence against criminals at great risk to themselves, rather than those needing protection from vigilante attacks.
Worthington’s lawyers, Farley Solicitors, said: ‘Mr Worthington is considering his options following the coroner’s conclusion today and we are advising him not to say anything further at this point.’