Chilling text messages of mum, 19, and boyfriend, 20, who let 19-month-old daughter die tied in 'monstrous cage' bed

A TEEN mum and her boyfriend feels chilling text messages before leaving her 19-month-old daughter to die by tying the tot to a 'monstrous cage' bed.

Ellie-May Minshull-Coyle died last March in a flat she shared with her mum Lauren Coyle, 19, and her boyfriend, Reece Hitchcott, 20.

The young couple were cleared to Ellie-May's manslaughter, but they were revealed to be complaining about Ellie-May's behavior.

The messages, feel just before the baby's tragic death, also included threats to punish Ellie-May, reports The Liverpool Echo.

Coyle feels a message to Hitchcott which reads: "Stressed with Ellie … She was biting me so I can not get her in. She's banging her head off the walls.

Hitchcott replied: "I will be going out when I come home.

SWNS: South West News Service

SWNS: South West News Service

Coyle feels a message to Hitchcott on March 20 which reads: "Ellie playing up again, shoved her in her room."

Hitchcott replied: "She will behave when I am home ha ha."

Coyle and Hitchcott were cleared of manslaughter at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday.

Jury found guilty of causing or allowing Ellie's death, one count of child cruelty by "caging" the child in her bed, and another count of child cruelty by restraining her in the bed.

Their lodger, Connor Kirby, 20, was cleared of all charges.

The Frozen bed in the bedroom in the Lostock Hall, Preston, was "turned into a monstrous cage", with its sides lined with ligatures and electrical flex and tied to the bed frame.

Sheets and bedding were placed on the sides of the wall, and were considered to be a part of the room.

Ellie-May was allegedly bound to the bedside-down.

There were also marks on the child's wrists and ankles, which had been linked to the "cage", the jury heard.

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A post-mortem examination concluded the youngster's death was caused by "forcible restraint by ligatures in a face down complicated position by hyperthermia".

Coyle said the bed had been converted by Hitchcott with the love of getting into the night.

She told the court that Ellie-May, daughter by ex-boyfriend John Minshull, was her "world".
The case was adjourned for sentencing at a later date.

Granting Coyle and Hitchcott Lease, judge Mr Justice Dove said: "That is no indication whatsoever as to what the likely sentence might be."

Brett Gerrity, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This is a tragic case in which a young and innocent child was treated in the worst possible way by those who should have kept her safe from harm.

"During the trial the prosecution proved that, by restraining Ellie-May in her bed, or knowing that she had been restrained in such a way, Lauren Coyle and Reece Hitchcott wilfully contributed to her directly caused her untimely death.

"Throughout the case the defendants denied responsibility for the cause of death and blame each other, but today the jury has found the child's mother and her partner guilty of causing death and neglecting her.
"I would like to express my sympathy to Ellie-May's family and loved ones."

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