Father accused of battering his daughter, six, to death 'called the little girl a c*** after she wet herself and forced his partner to have abortion because he was disgusted by her pregnancy'

A father accused of battering his six-year-old daughter to death told his partner of his ‘disgust’ when she became pregnant again, a court heard today.

Ben Butler, 36, is accused of killing Ellie Butler in a moment of rage as he looked after her at the family's home in Sutton, south London.
Jurors were today read 16 pages of text messages between Butler and Ellie’s mother Jennie Gray, often written in the most abusive terms.

Shocking messages sent by Ben Butler - who is accused of killing his daughter Ellie - to his partner were read to the jury at his trial today

The Old Bailey has heard Gray sought counselling following an abortion in 2013 and jurors were today read 16 pages of text messages sent between her and Butler between 16 January and 22 March 2013.
In one message Butler said: ‘Im disg that ur preg again and think its irresponsible and shocking...had engh of ur weight and looks..and the trble you bring.

‘The weight you whacked on its quite amazing and im sick of it... no baby just massive and I just want out of this.’
On 8 March, Butler warned: ‘Dare eva get preg again its ova..im not putting up with this s***t again...F***ing furious.’

On 16 March Gray said: ‘I am bleeding and ignoring it and pain all for U, pretending u didn’t make me kill baby U didn’t want.’

Butler replied: ‘U can’t talk OK. Not doing this no mre tried for ages...’

His partner replied in capital letters: ‘U KICKED ME OUT ON DOORSTEP AFTER EVERYTHING U DID TO ME AND THEN F***ING BLAME ME. I AM TO BLAME FOR NOT TURNING U ON OR BEING SEXY ENOUGH AND NOT DOING WHAT YOU WANT.’

Butler is said to have dominated their family life in a household where Butler was always on the verge of an  eruption of temper.
Prosecutors say the messages reveal the ‘toxic’ atmosphere within the home where Ellie suffered catastrophic head injuries on 28 October 2013.

The pair also discussed Ellie’s perceived behavioural problems with Butler complaining of the little girl ‘weeing’ herself, even referring to his daughter as a ‘c***’.

‘I want u to start being alot tougher... Shes being an abs c***... I want to knw y she pissed herself in front of dad and sat there sulking the whole f***ing time,’ Butler said in one message.

Gray replied: ‘I think is terrible so I am going to get tough. U need to be more serious with her too.’
Butler was not sat next to Gray in the dock as the messages were read out in court.

His barrister, Icah Peart QC, explained to jurors his client was not feeling well.

In other texts, the alleged abusive nature of the couple’s relationship was laid bare with Butler calling his partner a ‘mental b****’ or telling her she would be ‘sectioned’.

Little Ellie died of catastrophic head injuries and was found at her home in south London in 2013

In one, Gray said: ‘I am so tired now and are getting letter. Hopefully my face and eyes come back. But u rest up. U had enough, me too. I had enough being in hosp too. Enough your lack of support and making things harder.’

Butler replied: ‘U bitch whore.. Six yrs at court.. Jail.. hosp all ur f*** ups dint text ne giing to explode..u have until 10am.’
Butler is standing trial for murder while the couple are both accused of child cruelty over an untreated shoulder fracture caused in the weeks leading up to Ellie’s death.

Gray has admitted perverting the course of justice by allegedly attempting to cover up for Butler by destroying evidence and lying to police about what happened.

Butler was convicted of assaulting Ellie after she was taken to hospital with serious head injuries in 2007 when she was just six weeks old.
His conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal on 17 June 2010 but by then Ellie had been fostered.

Butler and Gray launched legal proceedings to have Ellie returned to their care and she was returned in November 2012 after a successful battle in the High Court.

Butler, formerly of Sutton, denies murder and child cruelty. Gray admits perverting the course of justice but denies child cruelty. The trial continues.



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