A toddler was murdered by her adoptive father under the noses of social workers and doctors who refused to accept he was anything other than a 'positive parent', a damning report revealed today.
Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, from Cardiff, subjected 18-month-old Elsie Scully-Hicks to months of horrific assaults before killing her in an attack so severe her tiny body looked like it had been in a 'car crash'.
Scully-Hicks, who was married to husband Craig, was visited 15 times by at least three social workers and he made numerous visits to the GP and A&E when he injured Elsie - but there was 'no concern' about his parenting.
Professionals viewed him through a 'positive lens' and insisted her adoption to the middle class and well-educated gay couple was going well until she died, a Child Practice Review said.
Today Vale of Glamorgan Council social services chief Lance Carver apologised to Elsie's natural family - who believe she would still be alive today if still in their care.
But Mr Carver also admitted no social workers had been disciplined or sacked over the mistakes because it was 'not appropriate'.
Yet an official review into her death was published today and said social workers and doctors of lacked 'professional curiosity' about Elsie's injuries.
The toddler suffered a broken leg, mystery bruising including one one her head that lasted for eight weeks and was even taken to hospital vomiting blood.
But each time the injuries were written off as common accidents or illnesses after her 'articulate' attacker made up excused.
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Elsie died, four days after her adoptive father shook her so violently her brain and eyes started bleeding before he threw her her headfirst into the floor, fracturing her skull.
Scully-Hicks was jailed for a minimum of 18 years after a trial last year but Elsie's biological grandmother Sian O'Brien said he 'got off lightly' and her granddaughter should have stayed with her.
'Elsie suffered horrendous physical abuse at the hands of a man who should have protected her and who was viewed by authorities as a positive parent.
'This review is disturbingly clear that opportunities were missed and information was not shared appropriately'.
Lance Carver, director of social services at the Vale of Glamorgan Council, accepted the findings of today's report and apologised for errors in Elsie's case.
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Mr Carver said no disciplinary actions had been taken against any members of staff as the report did not 'indicate that it would be appropriate'.
Scully-Hicks and his husband Craig were viewed as 'very positive parents' for little Elsie after she was taken away from her drug addict natural mother.
But as soon as she moved in her killer started secretly attacking her, branded her 'Satan in a babygro' and the 'exorcist' and heard calling her a 'silly little c***' inside their home in Llandaff.
Eight months after entering his care, and two weeks after being officially adopted by Scully Hicks and his husband, Elsie was murdered.
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It still took a month for her killer to be interviewed by police, on June 27, after the authorities noticed all the suspicious injuries she had suffered since she broke her leg on November 5 2015.
Six months after that police interview he was arrested on suspicion Elsie's murder and convicted in November 2017, almost two years to the day after he is first believed to have attacked her.
Scully-Hicks, who sobbed when he was convicted, denied murdering her but was today found guilty by a jury after a four week trial and jailed for a minimum of 18 years. [....]
'The assessment of them as adoptive parents was strong and robust and was compliant with good practice standards.'
It said Scully-Hicks and his partner were 'perceived to be very positive parents for this child.'
The report said: 'Given how strongly this view was held, the injuries that the child sustained were never considered as anything other than childhood accidents.
'Adoption is a positive outcome for almost every child. It is extremely rare for any child placed for adoption to be harmed by their parents.
'The parents, their extended family nor any of the professionals working with the child had recognised any concerns regarding possible harm.
'There were no reports to children's services of any such concern. As a result there is a lackof professional curiosity regardinn the child's experiences and injuries.'
But it revealed how little Elsie was seen many times by social workers and adoption officers in her short life.
It said: 'The child was not invisible to agencies at any time.
'The parents did not indicate at any stage that they were struggling to care for this child and did not require any additional support services.
'It is evident that during the child's placement with the parents the child was seen on many occasions by several professionals within the agencies.'
It hit out at errors by not flagging up injuries suffered by Elsie before her death.
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In January 2015 Scully-Hicks and his husband Craig were visited by a adoption manager after expressing a desire to become fathers.
Elsie was first put in the care of Scully-Hicks in September 2015 and the process was finalised nearly eight months later.
Between the meeting and her death, social workers visited their home 15 times and the toddler suffered bruises on her head, face and body, had broken her leg and had fallen down the stairs at the house.
Over the next seven months she also had mystery bruises on her head and was rushed to hospital in March last year after allegedly falling down the stairs.
Social workers and health visitors noted various injuries to Elsie's body including bruises to her head and a broken ankle.
Elsie was even rushed to hospital after vomiting blood - but Scully-Hicks claimed she had fallen down the stairs.
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But officials didn't raise any concerns which would have stopped the adoption process and potentially saved Elsie.
Neighbour Susan Bevan, who lived in the joining semi-detached house to the couple, said things changed when Elsie moved in.
Cardiff Crown Court heard stay-at-home husband Scully-Hicks branded her 'a psycho', 'the exorcist' and 'Satan dressed up in a Babygro' in text messages.
Mr Lewis said: 'On one occasion she heard a little girl crying and 'the one who stayed at home' having a rant and shouting 'shut up, shut up, shut the f*** up.''
Mrs Bevan's adult son, James, also heard Matthew Scully-Hicks shouting 'shut up you little f***ing brat' and 'shut up you silly little c***.'
On the day of Elsie suffered fatal injuries, Scully-Hicks took her shopping for an outfit for her to wear at a party to celebrate her adoption at a party planned with family and friends.
He sent pictures of outfits at Marks & Spencer to his husband and purchased one for Elsie to wear.
But instead he shook her and then threw her to the ground, leaving his daughter fatally injured.
The court heard the youngster suffered a string of injuries when she was alone with stay-at-home dad Scully-Hicks.
Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC said Elsie was found unresponsive by paramedics after Scully-Hicks attacked her at his home.
She died at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, after doctors decided she would not survive her traumatic head injuries.
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Speaking on behalf of the family, her birth grandmother Sian O'Brien said: 'I accept that at the time of giving birth my daughter was living a chaotic lifestyle and was not in a position to care for Shayla and she was removed from the hospital five days after birth by social services.
'As a family, we continued to have contact with Shayla whilst she was in the care of the foster family.'
Ms O'Brien said all of Elsie's family were 'extremely attached to her and loved her very much'.
She said: 'In January 2015, I started proceedings in the family court to become the legal guardian for Shayla.
'I wanted to bring her up in a happy, healthy and warm family environment, that was all taken away from me when social services and the family court decided I would not be able to cope.'
The statement continued: 'We all continue to fight on even though every day we are numb with pain and hurt deep in the knowledge that Shayla was loved unconditionally by us all as a family and knowing that had she not been taken away from us, she would still be alive today.'
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The death of a child within an adoptive placement is incredibly rare, but made no less shocking or distressing by its infrequency. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest sympathy to members of Elsie's birth and adoptive families.
'Implementing the recommendations of the independent review is a priority for the council and one we take incredibly seriously.'
Suzanne Griffiths, Director for National Adoption Service for Wales, described it was 'tragic and extremely rare.'
'The report concludes that the key decisions regarding the approval of Elsie's adoptive parents and their subsequent matching with Elsie were thorough and robust.
'There is clearly a need to carefully consider the detail of the review and its recommendations of that policy and practice can be strengthened.
'The adoption process has remained highly regulated since sweeping reforms were introduced in the 1980s. Adoption offers permanence and good outcomes for the vast majority of children who leave care in this way.
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