Murdered baby's birth mum: 'He was placed in the home of a monster'

Leiland-James Corkill died on January 7, 2021, the day after he suffered a catastrophic head injury which experts said was non-accidental. He was aged one year and 17 days.

The baby's would-be adoptive mother Laura Castle, 38, later admitted manslaughter, accepting that she had shaken the baby, but after a trial at Preston Crown Court a jury convicted her of murder.

A coroner today began hearing evidence about the former Whitehaven baby’s death, examining the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. The hearing began with an emotional statement from Leiland-James’ birth mother.

The baby's birth mother Laura Corkill planned to attend the hearing but felt unable to, said coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw.

In her emotional statement, she said her son was not given the chance to grow into the “wonderful young man” she was certain he would have become.

“I have fought and will continue to fight for my son,” she said. “He deserved to live in safety and security in the world and I wanted him home with me. I never expected it would be in a coffin...

“He was placed into the home of a monster – a monster who was meant to love and nurture and cherish him as I would have done.”

She said Leiland-James was taken away from her two days after his birth because she had been in a relationship which featured domestic violence.

But she had ended that relationship and made “so many positive changes” in order to keep her son. Ms Corkill said she that had hoped her son would be returning to her home – a home that she insisted was "filled with love".

It had everything her son needed, she said, including a decorated nursery, with clothes folded in the drawers, and the pram in the hallway of a safe home.

She continued: “I exist to get justice for my son Leiland-James… He was ripped from my loving arms… He was a happy boy, with a bright beaming smile – a smile that would brighten days. Even on my worst days he was my sunshine.”

She acknowledged that the inquest would reach a judgment on what happened but said that nothing could ever reduce or take away the pain left by the “monster” who broke her baby’s body and mind.”

Referring to Laura Castle, she said: “She’s not a mother; she’s a monster.”

The inquest heard an account of how Leiland-James (pictured above with Laura Castle inset) was placed initially with a foster carer two days after his birth in December 2019. The foster carer who had initially looked after him described him as a “beautiful, happy, and contented little boy.”

He loved being “cuddled and carried,” said the woman.

By August 2020, visits were being arranged with the baby’s prospective adoptive parents, Laura Castle and her partner. They happened on a daily basis between August 15 and 20, and went well, the hearing was told.

The foster parents had their final contact with Leiland-James on August 22 that year. The foster mother said she observed nothing to cause her concern.

Dr Shaw then considered evidence that showed Laura Castle was struggling with the task of caring for Leiland James during the following month.  In particular, Castle's text messages in late September showed she was struggling.

She confessed to “not liking” Leiland-James and said: “I totally regret doing this.”

In one message, sent on September 24, she said: “I don’t even have any nice moments to make me think yes; it was worth it. I need to stop smacking him because if I don’t I will not stop.”

Her partner advised her to walk away.

In another message, sent at around the same time, she wrote: “I lost the plot absolutely. I’m at my wit’s end with this BS.” She said she was near the point of calling her social worker to say that she no longer wanted Leiland-James.

She admitted she had “absolutely leathered him” and that she could not take it any more. 

Dr Shaw commented: “The social work team had no inkling of what was going on behind closed doors, which was only revealed by the police investigation.”

The hearing was told a series of visits made to Castle’s home after Leiland-James began living with his prospective adoptive parents.

On November 12, Castle told a social worker she did not love Leiland-James - an admission they considered reassuring, given that it showed Castle was "being open".

Social worker Beth Taylor visited the Castle home on November 14.  Describing that visit, she said Castle’s mood appeared “flat” but the home seemed normal and there was nothing to cause concern.

Addressing the attachment issue, she told Castle this was not unusual at such an early stage in the relationship. Ms Taylor said: “I encouraged her to keep being open and honest.” She saw the exchange as positive, showing Castle’s willingness to disclose her problems with the prospective adoption.

Commenting after hearing this section of evidence, Dr Shaw said: "It almost seems difficult to believe but one gets the impression from those statements that the Castles are telling a completely different story to their social workers  to what has transpired and what has actually happened  in real life."

He highlighted how on September 24 - the day she sent one of the concerning text messages - she had told a social worker that Leiland James had slept well.

The hearing is expected to last for two days.

* Laura Castle, from Barrow, was convicted of both child cruelty and murder and was jailed for eighteen years in May 2022.