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The 13-month-old tot was in an “unsafe” sleeping environment and suffered injuries to her bottom caused by sexual assault, Cumbria's senior coroner David Roberts said.

Mr Roberts gave his conclusions today following a three-week inquest before Christmas into the toddler’s horrific death.

Poppi’s dad Paul Worthington refused to answer questions about her death 252 times – and said he went to change her nappy before finding her lying limp.

The coroner said his account of her death on December 12, 2012, at the family home in Barrow-in-Furness “did not stand up to scrutiny”.

Mr Roberts recorded a narrative conclusion at the inquest at Kendall Coroner’s Court.

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The tot work up screaming at about 5.30am in the family home before her dad put her on his bed and went to get a fresh nappy.

Mr Worthington claimed when he returned she had settled down, but then after around five or 10 minutes he found she was limp.

He said he then rushed downstairs and the child’s mum – who was sleeping at the time – called an ambulance.

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Paramedics picked up the toddler and got her to hospital by 6.11am, but she never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 7am.

Medics said they noticed she had been bleeding from her bottom.

In January 2016 – as part of family court proceedings involving Poppi's siblings – a judge revealed his findings that Mr Worthington probably sexually assaulted his daughter by anal penetration shortly before her death.

Worthington has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offence as the police say there is insufficient evidence.

He has been living in hiding since the family court proceedings were made public.

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The inquest heard that an investigation by Cumbria Police saw vital evidence lost, so exactly what happened to Poppi will never be known and no-one will be charged with any offence over her death.

Mr Worthington refused to answer questions about his daughter's death, exercising his legal right not to incriminate himself, during two days giving evidence.

And he would not explain how her DNA came to be on his penis and refused to answer questions 252 times.

Mr Roberts said: "As a result it was difficult to assess his overall demeanour and honesty.

"In the circumstances I conclude I could not form any reliable view as to his honesty based on his performance in the witness box."

In a statement, Mr Worthington's lawyers, Farley Solicitors, said: "Mr Worthington is considering his options following the coroner's conclusion today and we are advising him not to say anything further at this point."

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Poppi's mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, looked red-eyed and close to tears for much of today's three hour hearing.

She left court twice, the first time during graphic medical evidence about her daughter.

And then a second time, after the coroner reached the point where he ruled Poppi had probably been anally penetrated before her death.

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Mr Roberts said Poppi, who at the time was suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection, died from asphyxia.

He said the child was taken from her cot and put in Paul Worthington's double bed, where she was anally penetrated.

Her ability to breath was compromised sleeping in the bed with her dad and because of the infection, he said.

Mr Roberts concluded: "The deceased died as a result of her ability to breathe being compromised by an unsafe sleeping environment."

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Mr Roberts said a conclusion of unlawful killing was not available to him as he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Poppi died from an act of murder or manslaughter.

Although satisfied that she was penetrated before her death, he concluded she did not die immediately afterwards and that penetration did not cause her death.

He said the cause of death was asphyxia as he explained her ability to breathe was compromised by an "unsafe sleeping environment" after her dad had taken Poppi from her cot and placed her next to him in his double bed.