Social services knew of previous injuries to a Gloucestershire baby who suffered a horrific death at the hands of her parents who are now facing jail after being convicted this week of child cruelty.

As Andrew Snee, 30, (pictured) and Sharon Brennan, 21, await their sentence, it emerged this week that child protection procedures in the county have been tightened up since the tragedy.

Four-month-old Chloe died from severe head injuries in September 1999. But she had also suffered three broken ribs, a fractured collarbone and heavy bruising in the month before her death.

In a tragic irony Gloucestershire Social Services this week admitted a team of childcare experts had been due to meet to discuss Chloe's welfare. But she died before the meeting took place.

Detective Sergeant Alison Cairns who investigated the case described it as "one of the worst cases of child cruelty I have ever had to deal with."

A jury this week found Snee of Western Road, Gloucester, and Brennan, of North Cerney, guilty of child cruelty. Bristol Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hooper warned them to expect a jail sentence when they return to court on June 22.

Earlier the judge dismissed murder charges on the pair but admitted he had been forced to make the decision because no-one could be sure which of the pair had administered the injuries as both blamed the other.

The "obvious lies" the pair had told during the two-week trial were the final insult to Chloe, he said.

Social Services admitted procedures had been tightened up since her death. A spokesman expressed sympathy and concern to everyone involved in the case but admitted they had been aware of previous injuries suffered by Chloe.

"Chloe was killed by a shaking injury. Unfortunately these injuries are very hard to predict," said social services spokeswoman Sarah Woods.

"The relatively minor injuries Chloe had suffered would not have led anyone involved with the family to expect the more serious incident which led to her death."

She said a review of the case revealed "some areas where procedures could be tightened up and this has been done."

Andrew Snee's sister-in-law Tracey Snee, 27, from Gloucester, said she was devastated by Chloe's death. "I can't believe everything that has happened," she said.

"Chloe was my only little niece and she only lasted four months. I could kill them for what they have done."

Brennan and Snee set up house together in Cirencester in 1998. Snee had the mental understanding of a five-year-old and Brennan was a schizophrenic who suffered violent mood swings.

The couple were known to indulge in binge drinking and could not cope with the demands of a baby. Their drink-fuelled rows caused baby Chloe to wake in the night and cry, a cry for comfort which ultimately led to her death.

During an emotionally-charged two-week trial Brennan admitted dropping her chronically underweight baby on the floor and Snee admitted shaking his baby daughter.

The social services' statement, issued yesterday, said: "Whenever a serious injury or, as sadly in this case, a death, occurs the inter-agency child protection committee carries out a review.

"The review concluded that agencies were working together well on this case and the communications were running smoothly."

Used courtesy of Gloucestershire Newspapers