A message exchange between a woman accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter and her friend has been read out to a jury.

Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell and Scott Jeff are currently on trial for the murder of Isabella Wheildon, who was found by police in her pushchair in temporary housing in Sidegate Lane in Ipswich last summer.

Isabella suffered extensive injuries caused by possible kicking or stamping after 22-year-old Scott Jeff started a relationship with her mum Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, who was also 22, Ipswich Crown Court previously heard.

Both Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff, now both 24 and formerly of Bedfordshire, have denied murdering the girl between June 26-30 last year.

Gleason-Mitchell has pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child and two offences of cruelty to a child under 16.  

Joanne Gardner, one of Gleason-Mitchell's friends, gave evidence on Wednesday and spoke about a message exchange on Facebook between them during the days around Isabella's death.

Miss Gardner told the court Gleason-Mitchell had sent a message saying she could no longer recognise the child, who was in her pram in the bathroom.

In the message, Gleason-Mitchell wrote that they had to "cover her up" and "she's going to start to smell".

In the same message she told her friend she could not go to the police because of the bruising to Isabella's body.

The court heard in one message, Gleason-Mitchell had said the two-year-old had been in the pram for three days.

Miss Gardner told the court she was in “shock” and said she “couldn’t believe the story”.

The court heard the defendant told her to delete the messages in the conversation several times.

Further messages from Gleason-Mitchell were read to the court: “I gonna be locked up for a very long time.

“Because they going to say I murder her because I left her dead in pram”, the court heard.

Gleason-Mitchell told Miss Gardner she had informed police on June 29 but Miss Gardner then phoned them on June 30 and officers discovered the child at the accommodation in Sidegate Lane.

Jeff has denied causing or allowing the death of a child between June 26-30 last year.

He has also denied two offences of cruelty to a child under 16 between June 26-30.

The trial, which is expected to last between six and eight weeks, is being heard by High Court judge, The Hon. Mr Justice Neil Garnham.

Isabella was born in Stevenage in Hertfordshire on September 22, 2020.

The trial continues.