A GRIEVING father refused to accept the apology of his 'wicked and selfish' ex-wife as she was sentenced to life in prison for murdering their 20-month-old daughter with a bin liner.

Angela Whitworth, formerly of Herald Way, Bicester, broke down in tears as the court heard how she took the life of toddler Sarah Dahane in May 2013.

Whitworth pleaded guilty on August 24, and admits suffocating the youngster with a black plastic bag as a result of an on-going custody battle.

She fled the country and was arrested nearly three years later in Uganda ‪on March 9‬ this year.

Mr Justice Robin Spencer said the act was 'wicked and selfish' and sentenced the former carer yesterday at the Old Bailey, in London, in front of Sarah's father Nabil Dahane and Whitworth's family members.

He said: "You killed her because you believed the family court was not going to let you take her to Kenya to live with you there, but instead was going to let her reside with her father.

"It was a thoroughly wicked and selfish act.”

He added: “You smothered Sarah to death by placing a black plastic bin bag over her head and holding it there until she stopped breathing.

“She must have been terrified and bewildered in her last moments of life.”

Prosecutor Sally Howes QC told the court how an ongoing custody battle had left Whitworth suffering from depression and in support of health workers.

The court heard that on May 15, 2013, Whitworth received a report from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service recommending if Whitworth remained adamant on taking Sarah to live abroad, then Mr Dahane should retain custody.

An alternative recommendation was for her to remain in the UK joint custody for the pair.

The final hearing was planned for June 17 of that year. But it was after receiving this email that the 44-year-old went on to book flights to Kenya, before killing Sarah and flying out from Heathrow that night.

When she reached Kenya she phoned her brother back in the UK saying 'the child is dead', the court heard.

Iain Morley QC, defending, told the court Whitworth planned to commit suicide in Kenya and attempted it two days after Sarah's death.

He gave a statement from Whitworth, it said: "I understand the pain I have caused and I apologise sincerely from the bottom of my heart.

"I am full of self-loathing, I am horrified at myself."

These words were dismissed by ex husband Mr Dahane, who said he had hoped for a tougher sentence.

The 36-year-old from Banbury said: "The apology doesn't mean anything to me, I lost my child and an apology is not going to bring her back.

"She has caused so much damage to me and many others."

Whitworth evaded police for nearly three years but yesterday remained emotionless as she was lead down to the prison cells where she will serve a minimum of 15 years for murder.