Star Hobson, the beleaguered grandfather who was a father to his child committed suicide after leaving a note of support in prison promising that he would look after him.
Andrew Smith (50) died from an overdose after he realized that Frankie Smith of Keighley West Yorkshire had been responsible for Star Hobson’s death.
Savannah Brockhill, Savannah’s mother Frankie Smith’s girlfriend murdered the tragic child after she had suffered months of abuse at her West Yorkshire home in the Covid lockdown.
Frank, Andrew’s father (68) was among five close relatives and friends that whistleblowers and raised concerns regarding Star’s 16-month-old treatment.
Frankie received a note from Andrew before his passing, informing her of his intentions to look after her baby.
Frank stated to Sun that he believed Frank was a good man. [Andrew]He had left a baby’s handprint in his window and he never cleaned it up. He couldn’t handle it and so he did it on Frankie’s birthday.
‘He sent her a card in prison and wrote, “You look after yourself and I’ll look after the baby”. It’s been devastating.’
Frankie Smith (19) was sent by Andrew Smith (55) a note in which he promised that he would look after Star while Star was in jail
Five opportunities were missed by social services to arrest Star’s murderers, which included her great-grandfather and his partner in September 2020.
Frank continued: ‘When they found him, Star’s coat was at the side of him. The baby that was born in the midst of my son’s 50-year-old life had just a few short months.
Star’s greatgrandfather called Brockhill (28 years old) ‘pure evil” and “ascended from hell”. Smith (20 years of age) cried when Smith was sentenced to Bradford Crown Court for permitting or causing the death of the toddler yesterday.
Smith wept uncontrollably when the verdicts were given as they stood in front of the dock with a glass-fronted window.
Star was brought to hospital in her flat, where she lived together with Smith, Wesley Place, Keighley. Prosecutors told the trial that Star’s injuries were “utterly devastating” and “unsurvivable”.
Star was bruised on Star’s forehead by Star. Police released this graphic to the media, sparking calls from Star’s family for social services.
Partner in Death: Savannah Brockhill (28) and Frankie Smith (20), were both convicted of Star Hobson’s murder.
Jurors learned that Smith’s relatives and friends were growing concerned over the bruises they had seen on Smith in the months leading up to her death and filed a number of complaints with social services.
Brockhill, Smith and others were successful in convincing social workers that Star’s marks had been accidental.
Star was killed by injuries to her abdomen that were described as severe, forceful, punching, stamping and kicking.
Star also had other injuries that were revealed by jurors. This meant Star had suffered “a variety of serious injuries at various times” in her short life.
Frank alerted the social services to Star’s face with bruises.
According to some reports, their mother had traveled from Scotland to see them when they visited. Unannounced, they returned again the following day and discovered her at Brockhill.
Star became so confused by all the abuse she suffered during an unannounced visit of a social worker at their Keighley house on September 15, last year that she decided to walk into a sofa.
Brockhill explained that the woman had fallen down the steps.
In fact she was being ‘choke slammed’, swung by her leg and hit in the face by the twisted couple.
They called her a “brat” and made her stand in front of the wall during their cruel reign.
Star was allowed to stay with her father and two other friends.
While Tuesday’s verdicts have fueled mounting calls to reform in light of the widespread outcry about Arthur Labinjohughes, six-year old who was murdered by his stepmother earlier this year, Tuesday’s verdicts also prompted a surge in support for such reforms.
It later emerged that the Children’s Services boss in charge of Star’s care quit his £121,000-a-year post just days before Smith and Brockhill went on trial.
Mark Douglas was appointed Bradford Council’s third Director for Children’s Services. He resigned after a three-year period of turbulent times.
In 2018, an Ofsted report labelled the department ‘inadequate and stated that some of its children were at risk.
Michael Jameson resigned as director shortly after the release of the report. Gladys Rhodes White succeeded him less than one year later.
Douglas was formerly the Director of Children’s Social Care at Doncaster Children’s Services Trust and vowed that he would ‘develop excellent and outstanding services in the district and city’ upon his arrival.
Star was smiling happy before her suffering from her mother’s murder and the pain she endured at home. Police have released this picture.
One visit to Abused Star saw her so confused that she went into a couch in front of a social worker.
Kersten England, the Chief Executive Officer of Bradford Council said that Mark would be the key to our success so we can put the needs and voice of young people in the centre of all that we do.
On October 15, the ex-social worker quit abruptly, just as Bradford Crown Court was about to begin.
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