Relative twice reported Victoria was in danger

A relative of Victoria Climbie said yesterday that she had twice warned social services that the eight-year-old's life was in danger, eight months before Victoria was murdered.

Esther Ackah told an inquiry into Victoria's death that she called Brent Council social services in June 1999, the day after visiting her at a flat in Harlesden, north-west London.

Victoria died in February last year after being starved and beaten. She had 128 separate injuries and weighed just 10lb. Her great-aunt, Marie Therese Kouao, 44, and Kouao's boyfriend, Carl Manning, 28, were jailed for life for murder in January this year.

Mrs Ackah told the inquiry: "I made it clear that the child's life was in danger and somebody should go to see her."

Dr Nathaniel Carey, a pathologist who had found that Victoria died of hypothermia, said child protection services had missed at least 12 chances to save the child's life.

The inquiry continues.