Phillip Lee, 36, was jailed in 1983 for eight years for the manslaughter of his two-year-old daughter Katrina. He was found not guilty of murder. Katrina died with a crushed pancreas and 21 rib fractures after Lee hit her in the stomach.

Now store bosses at the Alldays chain have launched a probe at the branch in Cowley Road, where Lee works as a night security guard.

While in prison, Lee attempted suicide three times as his mother and sister campaigned to prove his innocence. But in 1990, he was jailed again for 18 months for ramming two police cars and a motorbike after a high-speed chase through Oxford.

He admitted several charges, including assault, reckless driving, driving while disqualified and damaging two police cars, a police motorbike and a Fiat Uno.

Alldays hired Lee last August and he is responsible for protecting staff, who have been subjected to attacks in the past from members of the public.

A spokesman at the head office in Eastleigh, Hampshire, said: "The area in which our Cowley Road store is situated has been affected by a spate of crimes.

"As the safety of our customers and staff is paramount, the decision was taken to employ a security guard.

"The guard in question was employed in good faith, via standard procedures. We have now been alerted to the fact that this man may have a criminal record.

"We are taking the matter very seriously and are undertaking an immediate and thorough investigation into these allegations."

But Cowley Road store manager Duncan Hopkirk said there was no reason why Lee should not work at Alldays.

He said confidential checks were carried out when staff were recruited and added that Lee was doing an excellent job.

He said: "He is employed directly by us as a member of staff and works during the night. We are open until 3am and re-open at 7am and his hours vary.

"We need some sort of security option because staff have been threatened with shootings and knifings in the past. We were experiencing problems safeguarding our premises and staff, in terms of both internal and external security.

"I am satisfied that he is suitable to work for me. He has served his time and should be given a chance to get off the dole and get on with his life. He is very angry that his past has been dragged up and doesn't want to say anything."

Alldays is one of the UK's leading convenience store operators. There are 750 shops - company owned, franchised or licensed - specialising in long hours. Lee killed his girl with blow to stomach PHILLIP Lee was jailed for eight years in April 1983 for the manslaughter of his two-year-old daughter, Katrina.

A jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a three-day trial at Reading Crown Court.

The former car worker, then aged 22, was also convicted of assaulting the child and causing her actual bodily harm.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Macpherson told him: "This was formidable violence which killed this young child."

The court was told that Lee, a severe epileptic, first attacked Katrina after he was sacked from his job at British Leyland, now the Rover plant at Cowley, due to his illness.

Social workers were called in and Katrina and her sister Zoe Anne taken into care for assessment with their mother, Beverley.

It was decided at a case conference that the children - who were among 190 youngsters on the at risk register in Oxfordshire at the time - were no longer at risk from their father and were allowed home.

Three months later, in October 1982, Lee was looking after Katrina while his wife went to the launderette near their home in Warren Crescent, Cowley.

He said he hit Katrina in the stomach after she began "snivelling" for her mother. Lee told the court: " I hit her once during that time. I told her, her mother would be back in a minute. She fell backwards and started screaming."

Katrina was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital after her mother returned home but attempts to revive her failed.

A post mortem examination revealed she had died from a crushed pancreas caused by a blow to the stomach and other injuries including 21 separate rib fractures.

After the verdict, it was revealed that Lee had a previous conviction for grievous bodily harm and one for assault with intent to rob.

His barrister, Igor Judge QC said: "He tried very, very hard to have a proper relationship with his daughter. He is very young and he killed the person he loved.

"He will have to live with that for the rest of his days." LEE wrote this poem from prison after being convicted of the manslaughter of Katrina:

Where did you go woman child, where did you go?

Why has your soul, sweet soul, kind soul left us?

Beautiful daughter of mine, so soon taken away.

How could so fresh a flower as you, not receive the promise of the spring?

Your smile alone on the picture, softly seems to sing, don't cry for me, don't cry for me.

When I'm so sorrowful at your goodbye

How deep, how deep, Oh Lord how deep your loved one's pain be.

Little girl, even tears couldn't help me understand, the Almighty's purpose in swiftly depriving us of you.

But the prayer of my heart is, that he may give you rest in the most blessed place.

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