An 18-month-old girl fell down the stairs, broke her leg and suffered multiple bruises in the months before she was murdered by her adoptive father but no one stepped in to prevent her death.

An investigation has been launched into whether opportunities were missed to save the life of 18-month Elsie Scully-Hicks, who was visited by health and social workers 12 times and examined by doctors at least five times.

Her father, Matthew Scully-Hicks, 31, was allowed to adopt Elsie despite months of abuse. He eventually killed her while his husband was at work.

Two weeks after the fitness instructor and his husband, Craig Scully Hicks, formally completed the adoption process, the “delicate” little girl was beaten and shaken to death.

She died in hospital on May 29 last year, four days after being admitted with several broken ribs, a broken leg, bleeding on the brain and a fractured skull.

Scully Hicks, who referred to Elsie as a “psycho” and “satan in a babygro,” was convicted of murder by a unanimous jury following a four-week trial and will be sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday.