Accused dad of ‘abused’ tot Poppi Worthington to trouser thousands more in legal aid for inquest
Paul Worthington, 49, got £117,000 in public cash for a custody battle over his other kids and is now set to rake in more
A dad accused of abusing his daughter shortly before she died is to pocket thousands in legal aid - to avoid incriminating himself at her inquest.
Paul Worthington, 49, who denies any wrongdoing, has already had £117,000 in public cash for a custody battle over his other children.
And he is now set to rake in thousands more for a top London barrister to represent him at daughter Poppi's inquest.
The Legal Aid Board turned down his request for support six times but he was finally granted it following a judicial review.
That has resulted in Poppi's inquest - due to have been held next week - being delayed until the end of the year.
She died in December 2012 aged 13 months shortly after collapsing in her cot at home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
Worthington was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault but was never charged.
He denies any wrongdoing in relation to Poppi's death.
He received £117,000 in legal aid to pay for lawyers at a separate hearing to try and win custody of his other children.
As part of that case a judge ruled that former supermarket worker Worthington "perpetrated a penetrative assault on Poppi" shortly before she died.
He has been in hiding since January last year following death threats.
Special security arrangements will be put in place to protect him when he gives evidence at the inquest.
He had previously hinted he may not appear but Mr Roberts said: "Paul Worthington is a key factual witness who I will require to give evidence.
"He will need to be advised as to whether he should decline to answer certain questions, in order to avoid self-incrimination, should I give him the option to do so."
Prosecutors decided he will not be charged over her death because a bungled police probe meant there was not enough evidence.
Poppi's first inquest ruled her death was unexplained but it took just seven minutes and heard no evidence in public.
Most read in news
Coroner David Roberts scrapped that ruling and will hold a fresh inquest before the end of this year.
Worthington's lawyers made three requests to the Legal Aid Board for funding. Each request was turned down and a review of each decision also went against him.
A judicial review finally led to him being grated Exceptional Case Funding last week.
Poppi’s mother, Cumbria Police and Cumbria County Council all objected to the inquest being adjourned but Mr Roberts said he had no choice so Worthington's lawyers had time to prepare.
