THE Covid lockdown played a part in the tragic death of baby Leiland-James Corkill, a report concluded.

A safeguarding review that found prospective adoptive mum Laura Castle 'misled' social workers during the adoption but also shed light on how the pandemic may have made things more difficult in the home.

Leiland-James was murdered by 'sadistic monster' Castle at her home in Barrow in January 2021 and was jailed for at least 18 years.

A safeguarding review commissioned by Cumbria County Council described how Covid may have had an impact on the case.

It said there was a chance Covid measures may have made it more difficult for Leiland-James to adapt to his new environment having been placed with the Castles.

It also said Leiland-James could not attend community groups or go out with his family due to Covid restrictions.

The report said: "There is increasing research about the impact on children of the COVID 19 restrictions, and a view that it may affect their development and ability to adapt to different environments and people.

"This was likely to be an issue for both Leiland-James and the older child in the family. The prospective adopters told the adoption social worker that they missed having regular visitors to the home and going out as a family.

"They liked to eat out and have day trips, but this was impossible at the time. Leiland-James himself needed to adapt from being in a home with a lot of people, to living with a small family, with a father who slept during the day due to night shifts and limited or no visitors due to the new lockdown restrictions.

"This and the resulting stressors needed to be factored into the support being offered."

It also said 'there was a need at the time for questions to be asked of all families receiving support from agencies about the impact of Covid-19 on their family and on them as individuals'.

It added: "It is now known that the male prospective adopter had some time on furlough during the first lockdown.

"This had a significant financial impact which was not shared with the social workers at the time.

"The family also struggled with isolation during lockdown.

"None of these were unusual for any family in their situation, but with the female prospective adopter’s known history of anxiety and low mood and her long-term health issues, this required robust consideration."

The report said agencies needed to learn that the impact and Covid-19 on children and family could not be underestimated and 'will require robust consideration by professionals during assessments and contacts for some time'.