Two-year-old Maya Chappell sustained "a constellation of injuries" as East Durham pair stand trial over her death at Teesside Crown Court

Maya Chappell died as a result of "a constellation of injuries" allegedly inflicted by Michael Daymond, 27, when she was in his sole care at home in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, last September, Teesside Crown Court was told.

She died in hospital two days later having never regained consciousness.

Daymond denies murder and a charge of child cruelty and will say the youngster was injured falling out of bed, jurors were told.

The girl's mother Dana Carr, 24, denies charges of child cruelty by neglecting the two-year-old and allowing the death of her child.

Ben Nolan KC, prosecuting, said Maya's father James Chappell had repeatedly raised concerns with his ex-partner about their daughter's bruises.

The court heard that Carr went to work and left Maya in the care of Daymond on September 28 last year.

He was to make a 999 call, saying Maya was "gasping for breath" and although her eyes were open, it was "like she wasn't there" and seconds later she stopped breathing.

Daymond was given instructions over the phone and the emergency services scrambled to save her, but in vain.

Mr Nolan said: "The pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination concluded Maya had been subjected to a blunt force assault likely comprising severe shaking perhaps combined with blunt force impacts to the head and forceful blows to the abdomen.

"Additionally, there had been gripping and or pulling of the jaw and left ear.

"Maya also had extensive head, neck and torso bruising.

"A constellation of injuries that, in the opinion of the pathologist, had been deliberately inflicted and resulted in severe brain damage from which she could not recover."

Her death was not a "one-off" event, the prosecution said, but the culmination of a series of assaults.

A study of Daymond and Carr's phones, as well as witness statements, revealed concerns had been raised about the little girl.

Mr Nolan said her father had contacted police to find out whether Daymond had a history of domestic violence, as he was worried about his daughter being around him and told Carr she was failing to protect their child.

Carr was infatuated with her boyfriend, turned a "blind eye" to what was going on, and misled people around her, the court was told.

Mr Nolan said some weeks before she died, Maya's father texted Carr about five marks on their daughter's face and wanted to know what happened.

Carr then asked a relative to lie to her ex-partner on her behalf about Maya's bruises, the jury was told.

Carr and Daymond then kept Maya off nursery with a series of lying excuses, Mr Nolan alleged.

She was then to claim to Mr Chappell that she was no longer with Daymond, and he would not be playing a part in Maya's life, the prosecution said.

Mr Nolan said: "It was a lie that went to the heart of James Chappell's perfectly proper fears for Maya's safety at Mr Daymond's hands."

The trial continues.