A national charity chief has declared that "no-one has been properly brought to justice" after a father was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail.

Shidane Omar Mohamed was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday (January 21) after being found guilty of neglecting his 13-month-old daughter Amani, who died after suffering 70 separate fractures over a period of two to four weeks.

Kafiyu Dahir Tabarak, 36, the child's mother who lived with Mohamed in Bracondale Road in Abbey Wood, was given a two-year suspended sentence and a curfew between 9pm and 6am, also for child neglect.

A post-mortem examination on their daughter Amani revealed she had suffered 70 separate fractures on her body, with injuries to her arms, ribs, legs and shoulder.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, who led the investigation, said: "The level of abuse suffered by this toddler is incomprehensible; even more so given that the abuse was inflicted by either one or both of her parents."

An ambulance was called to the parents' address by Mohamed at 1.20pm on February 5 found that Amani was not responsive and transported her to a south London hospital.

Judge David Tomlinson said that Mohamed only made the 999 call after realising that the child was not showing any signs of life and that even after the emergency services arrived he was "hoping to prevent the truth from emerging."

Amani was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1:47pm.

Both parents were arrested but refused to answer any questions about their child's injuries during interview.

Judge Tomlinson added that Amani had endured a "sustained" assault and the energy needed to inflict such injuries "would be terrifying to such a young child."

Enquiries revealed that Tabarak had taken Amani to see a doctor but didn't mention the injuries.

This was despite speaking to friends about the child suffering from pain when she tried to move her arm.

Det Con Insp McHugh added: "13 month old Amani would have looked to her parents for love and care; instead they abused the privilege of being parents to this little girl by inflicting 70 separate injuries over a period of two to four weeks.

"This has been a very distressing investigation for all concerned."

Head of policy and public affairs at the NSPCC, Alan Wardle, said: "It's deeply distressing that no one has been properly brought to justice for the death of this defenceless toddler.

"While the parents have been found guilty of neglect there are still clearly unanswered questions as to how she suffered so many appalling injuries over a relatively short period.

"Many people may feel this couple got away very lightly in a case that will leave a bad taste for anyone who cares about children."

More to follow