'I will never, ever forgive him ' - Wigan tot Hollie Ashurst's mum on ex-partner, killer Daniel Ashurst

Daniel Ashurst and Leanne Thompson appeared to be a happy couple, enjoying life with their baby and planning their wedding.
Leanne Thompson, Hollie's mum, holds up a picture of her special baby girlLeanne Thompson, Hollie's mum, holds up a picture of her special baby girl
Leanne Thompson, Hollie's mum, holds up a picture of her special baby girl

But their family life shattered when Ashurst ran into Standish Medical Centre on February 28 with seriously ill 14-month-old Hollie in his arms.

His former partner has now spoken about their relationship and what happened to her beloved daughter in an exclusive interview with the Post.

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Leanne, now 27, met Ashurst - known as Danny - in a pub in Wigan in 2016 and love soon blossomed.

The family's former house in ShevingtonThe family's former house in Shevington
The family's former house in Shevington

She said: “We got on like a house on fire. I took to him straight away. He made me laugh.

“It happened quite quickly, our relationship. He moved in with me in the space of about three months. We had the best times. We then got a house together in Hindley and that’s where we had Hollie.

“He was always happy in himself. He did like a drink. We did have the odd argument but every couple argues."

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Ashurst proposed while they were on holiday in Spain and they started planning a wedding, with Leanne about to make a payment to a wedding planner on the day her daughter was injured.

Happy times - Hollie and Leanne on a family holidayHappy times - Hollie and Leanne on a family holiday
Happy times - Hollie and Leanne on a family holiday

She took 12 months off work with little Hollie and says Ashurst was involved in caring for their daughter day-to-day.

Leanne says Ashurst encouraged her to return to her job as a beautician, after doing some part-time work at their home on Fleming Court, Shevington.

It was only her second day working in a salon in Ashton when tragedy struck and while she is now looking forward to the future, she still harbours very strong feelings towards Ashurst, who also has a six-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

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“I hate him, I absolutely hate him,” she said. “I will never, ever forgive him.”

A card for Hollie on flowers at her funeralA card for Hollie on flowers at her funeral
A card for Hollie on flowers at her funeral

The court heard they had argued the night before and slept in separate rooms, before Ashurst drove her to work that morning.

She said: “On the morning, before it happened, he wasn’t himself. He had a bit of an attitude with me and he was dropping me off at work. He didn’t speak to me throughout the whole journey from Shevington to Ashton.

“I just said ‘bye Hollie’ - she was singing in the back of the car, being herself.”

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During the morning Ashurst sent Leanne a few text messages and they spoke during her lunch break, when he said Hollie was sleeping in her cot and he had given her Calpol as she was windy.

Leanne Thompson with a picture of HollieLeanne Thompson with a picture of Hollie
Leanne Thompson with a picture of Hollie

But later he called the shop and shouted for her to leave work as Hollie was unresponsive and he was at Wigan Infirmary’s A&E department.

Leanne rushed to the hospital and was met by a paramedic and doctor, who wanted to warn her about Hollie’s condition before she saw her.

She was warned ‘she’s not in a good way’. I went in and she was all wired up, they were trying their best.”

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She discovered Ashurst had taken Hollie straight to Standish Medical Centre and carried Hollie in his arms.

Staff there tried to revive her and called 999, before she was rushed to A&E.

Hollie was then taken by ambulance to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, with Leanne and Ashurst following in a police car.

Leanne said: “He didn’t speak to me all the way there.

“When I asked him in hospital, he said she had fallen downstairs. He was very quiet in hospital and wasn’t talking. He stood far back while I was next to the bed.”

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Hollie was taken to the intensive care unit and two officers from CID later went to arrest Ashurst in the family room where her parents were waiting.

Leanne said: “My gut instinct was ‘has something happened?’. I thought, ‘he’s done something’. They don’t arrest people like that. But I thought why would he do something like that, they have got it wrong.”

The mum remained at her daughter’s bedside, supported by her family, and while she was given accommodation in Ronald McDonald House, she says she was not able to sleep.

When it was clear Hollie was in the final stages of life, a vicar went to the hospital to christen her.

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Leanne made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her daughter’s life support machine and her baby died at 4.36pm on Friday, March 1, with Leanne’s parents at her side.

“It was very hard. I couldn’t be there. I went to a prayer room on my own,” she said.

A murder investigation then got under way and Leanne spent four hours being interviewed by police the next day. She was not a suspect, but officers were gathering information as they looked into what happened to Hollie.

As part of the investigation, Leanne gave dental impressions as Hollie had what were thought to be bite marks on her hand and leg. She says Ashurst refused to do this.

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She said she did not know Ashurst had told a mental health professional that he was concerned about caring for Hollie alone when she returned to work.

“I wouldn’t have gone to work if I had known, never ever,” she said. “That child never left my side anyway. She was so special to me and had gone through a lot. I absolutely adored her.”

She says she had no concerns about Ashurst looking after their precious baby.

She said: “I did see times when he was a bit rough with her, but thought he’s a guy. I never suspected anything.”

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Understandably, the past year has been difficult for Leanne, as she came to terms with the loss of her baby and the upcoming trial involving her daughter’s father.

She said: “Since Hollie died it’s been very tough. I feel like I have had to rebuild my life again. I stopped working. I suffer every day. It’s very tough.

“Nobody will ever understand my pain. I want the right justice for her. I do believe he has done it.

“Now I am accepting that I have lost her, but I will never forget her. Now I am getting back on my feet, getting back into work.”

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Leanne moved out of the family’s home in Shevington and initially went to live with her parents in Tyldesley, before moving to her own apartment.

She is now working as a beautician in Atherton and has found love with new partner Ben Ashurst - who is not related to Hollie’s father.

The couple met in August and Ben proposed on Christmas Eve - Hollie’s birthday - while they were on holiday in Fuerteventura. They hope to marry next year.

Leanne said: “He’s been amazing. He’s very understanding and I can’t thank him enough for the support he’s given me.”

She is looking forward to going on holiday with Ben to Mexico now the trial is over.

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