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Sophie Jones' Blackpool methadone death 'haunts' father | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The father of a two-year-old girl who died after drinking methadone at his home has told a jury he "did all he could to keep her safe". | The father of a two-year-old girl who died after drinking methadone at his home has told a jury he "did all he could to keep her safe". |
Sophie Jones took the heroin substitute prescribed for her mother Michelle King at their home in Blackpool. | Sophie Jones took the heroin substitute prescribed for her mother Michelle King at their home in Blackpool. |
King has admitted her manslaughter. | |
Sophie's father, Barry Jones, told Preston Crown Court he had been "haunted" King knew she had taken the drug and did nothing. He denies manslaughter. | |
The court has heard methadone was found stockpiled at the couple's home in a child's drinking cup and a fruit drink carton. | The court has heard methadone was found stockpiled at the couple's home in a child's drinking cup and a fruit drink carton. |
The jury was told the pair tried to cover up what had happened and if they had sought immediate medical help their daughter might have been saved with a methadone poisoning antidote. | The jury was told the pair tried to cover up what had happened and if they had sought immediate medical help their daughter might have been saved with a methadone poisoning antidote. |
Mother 'ran risk' | Mother 'ran risk' |
During cross-examination, Mr Jones said he had no knowledge Sophie had taken methadone on the day she died and blamed King. | |
"I am haunted by that; that she did know that Sophie had taken methadone and could have done something to save her life," he told the court. | "I am haunted by that; that she did know that Sophie had taken methadone and could have done something to save her life," he told the court. |
"Had I known my daughter had taken methadone, I would have done something." | "Had I known my daughter had taken methadone, I would have done something." |
Mr Jones said: "I tried my best to look after Sophie. I couldn't physically do anymore; the risk was being run by Michelle." | Mr Jones said: "I tried my best to look after Sophie. I couldn't physically do anymore; the risk was being run by Michelle." |
He told the jury he feared Sophie would be taken into care if he told social services about King's behaviour. | |
He said he had tried his best to look after Sophie and "couldn't physically do any more". | |
The jury heard he had told King not to store methadone in children's cups and had poured some away, but she was "stubborn". | |
The prosecution claim the couple made £300 a month from selling methadone. | |
Mr Jones also reacted strongly to prosecution claims Sophie had been given methadone to keep her quiet while he and King took drugs. | |
"She certainly was not given that methadone," he said. | |
"I don't know how she got hold of it." | |
Mr Jones denies manslaughter by gross negligence and an alternative charge of causing or allowing a child's death. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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