Mother Alleges Partner Punished Toddler with Cold Showers in Court Testimony

A mother accused of her two-year-old daughter’s killing has informed jurors that she witnessed her partner assaulting her child and subjecting her to cold showers as punishment. Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and her former partner, Scott Jeff, both aged 24, face charges for the murder of Ms. Gleason-Mitchell’s daughter, Isabella Wheildon. Isabella’s body was discovered in a pram within a property located on Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, on June 30, 2023; however, it is thought that her death occurred several days prior. During proceedings at Ipswich Crown Court, Ms. Gleason-Mitchell testified that Mr. Jeff began striking her daughter during their stay at a hotel in Norfolk earlier in June. Under cross-examination by Mr. Jeff’s defense counsel, Ms. Gleason-Mitchell stated that he assaulted her daughter multiple times and also placed her in a cold shower as a form of punishment in the weeks leading up to the child’s death. She further stated that some of the mistreatment was related to potty training, with Mr. Jeff often expressing anger towards her daughter. “I didn’t think he’d be like that all the time,” she explained. “He was wanting drugs – I thought it was a phase because he wasn’t getting drugs.” Ms. Gleason-Mitchell additionally confessed to having lied to law enforcement. Prior to being accommodated in Ipswich last June, Ms. Gleason-Mitchell and Mr. Jeff resided with Isabella in a tent on the beach in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The court was informed that while in Great Yarmouth, they told police officers and bar staff they had fled their life in Bedfordshire due to the conduct of Isabella’s father. Ms. Gleason-Mitchell stated during her trial that this account was false, asserting that she had also conveyed “a few lies” during the interview process concerning Isabella’s father, Thomas Wheildon. Christopher Paxton KC contended that Ms. Gleason-Mitchell’s accusations against his client constituted “lies” and that the chronology of the alleged assaults had been altered as many as three times. Ms. Gleason-Mitchell acknowledged possessing a “bad side” and stated that she “heard voices”. She further elaborated: “A different voice comes in my head and tells me ‘don’t get help’, don’t do this’ – it tells me things that I shouldn’t do.” Mr. Paxton KC inquired: “You hear voices, is that what you’re saying?” “Yes I do,” Ms. Gleason-Mitchell replied. Mr. Paxton asked: “Is that why Isabella was covered in bruises because of your bad side?” “No, I loved my daughter to pieces,” she replied. Ms. Gleason-Mitchell had previously pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of her daughter, but she denies the charge of murder. Mr. Jeff, aged 24, denies both causing or allowing Isabella’s death and murder. The trial is ongoing.