The father of two-year-old Isabelle Welsh, murdered by her mother and her mother's boyfriend, has condemned the authorities for missed opportunities that could have saved his daughter.
Joshua Welsh, 27, from North Shields, said he will never recover from the death of Isabelle at the hands of Harrison Simpson and Alexander Walker, whom he described as "callous monsters." The pair murdered Isabelle after a campaign of violence that included sexual assault and fractures to 21 bones in the weeks before her death. Simpson was sentenced to life with a minimum of 27 years and 231 days, while Walker received a minimum of 21 years and 48 days.
Missed Chances by Authorities
Welsh said the police, social services, and NHS staff had several chances to intervene before Isabelle was killed. He said, "What they both did was absolutely disgusting. That is no man. As for her - I don't know if I've got the words to describe her. She was meant to love her and protect her. She did not do either."
He added, "They are just two callous monsters. I just want justice for Isabelle and be her voice now she is not alive. I need to spread the message and make sure she is never forgotten." During the trial, the court heard that doctors had "overruled" medical staff who wanted to start safeguarding procedures when Walker repeatedly lied to clinicians to cover up earlier assaults. Welsh also recently discovered that police had failed to execute an arrest warrant against Simpson for 18 months because they "couldn't locate him."
Failed Arrest Warrant
Welsh said he had been in a relationship with Walker for about five years and believed she was a good mother, with no welfare concerns for Isabelle, despite limited contact after they split in August 2024. He last saw Isabelle days before her second birthday and had never heard of Simpson until his arrest. Paramedics attended her home in Thornaby on 13 September 2025 and found her covered in cuts and bruises. Isabelle was rushed to hospital but had sustained an unsurvivable head injury and was pronounced dead the following day.
At the trial, Ms Justice Norton said Isabelle had either hit her head against a hard surface when violently shaken, or had been swung by the legs into a wall or furniture. After a five-week trial at Teesside Crown Court, Simpson, 22, was found guilty of murder, sexual assault by penetration, and child cruelty, while Walker, 26, was found guilty of murder and child cruelty.
Father's Grief and Campaign
Welsh said he first learned of Isabelle's death when police arrived at his home. He said, "They sat me down on the sofa and said there had been an incident and something had happened with Isabelle." He said he only later learned about the failings, including the failure by Cleveland Police to execute an arrest warrant issued by Teesside Magistrates Court in March 2024, 18 months before the murder. At the time, Simpson had failed to attend court for breaching a non-molestation order after reports he had harassed and threatened a woman.
Welsh said, "He had a warrant out for his arrest. I did not know about this and the police did not inform us." He found out about the warrant two days after the verdict, via his sister who heard it on local radio. He said, "I was absolutely raging. I was angry, hurt and upset. The police should be ashamed of themselves. If they had done their job properly Isabelle would still be alive today."
Welsh said his initial relief at the guilty verdicts was replaced by anger at the sentencing, and he believes the killers should have received a whole life order. He said, "The sentence was absolutely shocking. I now need to fight for justice for my daughter. They will get out when they are 50. Isabelle won't have a life."
He added, "Social services needed to carry out welfare checks, the NHS child protection also let her down. Isabelle could have been saved in the NHS had worked property. If the nurse was not overruled by clinical doctors who did not have a clue."
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Chatterton, Senior Investigating Officer, said in a statement: "Isabelle was an innocent child who should have been safe and happy at home. The pain and suffering she experienced at the hands of Walker and Simpson was sickening." Cleveland Police said in a statement: "Multiple inquiries and arrest attempts were carried out to try to locate and arrest him, but these proved unsuccessful. We recognise the time Simpson had an outstanding arrest warrant is far from adequate. A review of this was immediately conducted upon his arrest for murder."
