A MONSTER mum and dad have been found guilty in the death of their newborn daughter who ‘didn’t stand a chance’.
Ava Grace Nolan was just eight days old when she died after suffering a series of injuries, including two separate bleeds to the brain and a fractured femur.
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Her parents, Sophie Nash, 31, and Daniel Nolan, 30, were “volatile and abusive” and shunned help from midwives and health visitors.
They only allowed a midwife to visit their home in Preston when they were threatened by the police.
Nash and Nolan now face jail time after being found guilty of causing or enabling Ava’s death.
The couple were also found guilty on two counts of causing or permitting grievous bodily harm and child cruelty.
Preston Crown Court heard baby Ava ‘didn’t stand a chance’ with the family home ‘not safe for any child’.
Police were dispatched on August 16, 2007, following reports that the newborn had been found unconscious.
She was rushed to hospital but unfortunately could not be saved and died shortly afterwards.
A post-mortem examination revealed that she died of a catastrophic head injury, likely caused by strong shaking.
Ava had also suffered a separate brain injury and a broken leg that was allegedly inflicted in the days leading up to her death.
Even after the couple’s arrest, they continued to plan their wedding for November 2021.
Det Ch Insp Jill Johnston of the Lancashire Major Force Investigation Team (FMIT) said: ‘Throughout this long and complex investigation, neither parent has ever accepted responsibility for doing struggling with Ava, Nolan, and Nash blaming each other.
“While we were unable to prove who inflicted these horrific injuries that caused the death of their baby girl, what we were able to prove is that they are both ultimately responsible. .
“One of them shook baby Ava to death and the other allowed it to happen. Neither of them sought medical attention for the initial injuries Ava suffered during those very short days of his life and I suspect that they delayed seeking medical help on the evening of his death, until it was certainly too late.
“Nolan and Nash were blessed with a healthy baby girl, a newborn whom they should have loved, cared for and protected from harm. To think that they were responsible for her death is inconceivable.”
The couple will be sentenced today.