Parents woke to find baby Angel dead

Angel Sharrod-Scott was a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as cot death, an Eastbourne inquest heard on Tuesday.

Angel, who had been born six weeks premature, had been sleeping with her parents Sarah Sharrod-Scott and Alex Scott at their home in Gibbon Road, Newhaven. When they awoke on November 13 last year they found their baby still warm but lifeless.

Mother of eight Mrs Sharrod-Scott, 35, a shop assistant, told the inquest her daughter refused to settle in her crib and would only sleep in her bed.

'She always slept in our bed. She had a brand new cot and she only slept in it twice.'

The tearful mother said she sensed immediately the child was dead. 'I realised straight away when I went to pick her up.'

An ambulance was called and unsuccessful attempts made to resuscitate the baby.

A report read in court from pathologist Dr Irene Scheimberg, of the Royal London Hospital, gave the cause of death as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. She stated a combination of factors generally led to death, including over heating, sharing a bed with parents, viral infections and exposure to cigarette smoke.

The syndrome is a term used to describe the situation when a baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly for no apparent reason

But an upset Mrs Sharrod-Scott, said she never smoked around her baby and that visitors to the house were made to smoke in the kitchen. Also, there had been no heating on in the bedroom.

Coroner Alan Craze said he was satisfied the parents had done all they could to care for Angel. He hoped lessons could be learnt to prevent other children dying in similar circumstances.

Verdict: natural causes.