A MUM charged with the manslaughter of her four-month-old baby girl in Gloucestershire appeared in court this morning.

Melissa Wilband, age 27, of Mantley Grove, Newent, Gloucestershire and a man, Jack Wheeler, age 30, of Coachman’s Court, Ledbury, Herefordshire, are accused of the manslaughter of Lexi Savannah Wilband in Newent and causing or allowing the death of a child.

They appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court this morning, Friday.  No pleas were entered and the case was adjourned pending a pre-trial preparation hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Monday, February 19.

The pair were released on conditional bail which bans them from having contact with any child under the age of 18.  They must also not contact each other by any means.

In a statement issued yesterday, Thursday, Gloucestershire police said baby Lexi was admitted to hospital during the Covid lockdown on April 12, 2020 and died six days later on April 18.

An inquiry led by Gloucestershire's major crime investigation team resulted in the pair being charged.