A couple accused of murdering a two-year-old girl went out leaving the youngster alone in a caravan in the weeks before her death, a court has heard.

Prior to moving into temporary housing in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich in June last year Scott Jeff and Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell stayed with Gleason-Mitchell’s daughter Isabella Wheildon at the Wild Duck caravan site near Great Yarmouth for three nights, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

CCTV footage from the site showed the couple leaving the caravan on several occasions, including late at night, without Isabella for up to 20 minutes at a time.

Other CCTV footage from the site showed the couple with Isabella, who was always wearing a winter coat, sometimes with the hood up, even though the weather wasn’t particularly cold.

Giving evidence on Monday (October 21) Chloe Smith who worked at the Wild Duck site said the couple and Isabella were provided with a caravan at the site after they had been sleeping in a tent on a beach.

She said that while giving the trio a lift to Great Yarmouth station before they moved into the temporary accommodation in Ipswich, Jeff had admitted to her that they had "exaggerated" the circumstances in which they had run away from Bedfordshire so that they would be housed.

Ms Smith, said Jeff said something about “weapons and abuse” and that they had exaggerated to get accommodation.

Ms Smith, who worked at the Wild Duck caravan park, said the abuse Jeff had been referring to had been towards Gleason-Mitchell and Isabella.

A witness who saw the couple and Isabella on the train to Ipswich described Isabella as being overdressed in a coat with the hood up on one of the hottest days of the year.

She said she didn’t see Isabella, who was wearing sunglasses, move or hear her speak during the journey.

Jeff,  24, and Gleason-Mitchell, also 24, of no fixed address, have denied murdering Isabella between June 26-30 last year

Jeff has also 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.

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

The trial continues