Heidi Luise Koseda

Heidi Koseda should have celebrated her 28th birthday this year, but due to horrific parental
neglect and abuse and the appalling failings of Health Workers, Social Services, NSPCC and the
Police her life was cut short.

Heidi Koseda was born on the 16th December 1980 it is thought she died during the month of November
or December 1984, a precise date of her death cannot be given for reasons which will become evident
in the story of her sad life.

For the first two years of Heidi's life she lived with her mother and natural father, Rosemary and
Henryk Koseda. These first years of Heidi's life were thought to have been normal and uneventful
until her parents relationship broke down and they separated in October 1982. Henryk koseda never
saw his daughter alive again.

Soon after the departure of Henryk Koseda another man moved in, Nicholas Price, Koseda and Price had
known each other from when they were at school. Price was said to have dominated Koseda from the
offset, according to Koseda's mother Mrs Rickard, who stated that Koseda's mental health
deteriorated rapidly.

On the 23rd of September 1983 Koseda gave birth to a son, James, the father being Price. During
Koseda's confinement in hospital the staff found Price to be unusually disturbed.

Koseda failed to take Heidi to her 3 year check up this resulted in eight visits being made by
Health Visitors to try to persuade her to attend the check up. The last time Heidi was seen alive by
medical staff was on the 5th January 1984 when she accompanied her mother and half brother for his
infant immunisation.

Mrs Rickard (Heidi's maternal grandmother) last saw Heidi during Christmas 1983 and at the end of
this visit it was noticed that Heidi did not want to return home to her mother and step father. Mrs
Rickard was supporting the family financially at the time; during the new year of 1984 she withdrew
her financial support. The result of this financial withdrawal was that Price refused Heidi and her
grandmother any further contact. Mrs Rickard never saw her granddaughter alive again.

In March 1984 Koseda fell pregnant again; the family withdrew all contact with extended family
members from either side and became isolated in their flat. Koseda refused any medical help with the
pregnancy. Health Visitors tried calling and left a card, the card was returned with "not known"
written across it. The Health Visitors wrongly assumed that the family had moved away.

Between January 1984 and July 1984 Heidi was only seen by outsiders who were neighbours in the block
of flats where they lived. Heidi was seen frequently playing with another little girl, witnesses
later claimed that Heidi was always hungry and had many bruises to her arms and legs.

New neighbours moved in below the family in August 1984 and they stated that they never saw Heidi;
they also stated that they heard persistent banging and crashing all evening into the early hours
followed by screaming and crying. The new neighbour called the NSPCC on the 3rd September to voice
her concerns. On the 10th September a Health Visitor called at the flat and was told that Heidi was
sleeping, she did not attempt to see the child. During September the Health Visitor attempted to
make three more visits which were unsuccessful. In October the family were allocated a new Health
Visitor, who was wrongly told that the family had moved away this resulted in their records being
returned to the Health Authority HQ.

The nightly banging and crying continued the neighbour again called the NSPCC on the 10th October,
followed by a second and third call in November. A NSPCC Officer made an unsuccessful call to the
flat; he then later falsified his records to reflect that a successful visit had been made. He was
sacked for his actions.

On the 6th December two Midwives called at the flat after reports that Koseda had given birth. The
family, except Heidi, were asleep in the living area, there was no heating or lighting in the flat.
James (18 months) was dressed in only a vest and no other clothes could be found for him. Koseda and
Price stated that Heidi was staying with friends in Hounslow. Koseda and Lisa Price were discharged
from hospital 5 days later.

Between the 11th & 13th of December the Community Midwife visited the flat 5 times unsuccessfully.
Mrs Rickard attempted a visit and was also unsuccessful. Between the 17th & 20th December more
attempts were made by Health Visitors, again unsuccessful.

On the 21st December a Health Visitor passed the case to Social Services.

On the 24th December a Health Visiting Senior Nurse spoke with Price on the doorstep of the flat.
Price told the nurse that Koseda was out with the children, the nurse then made an appointment for a
Health Visitor to call on the 27th of December.

27th December call made by Health Visitor is unsuccessful.

A warrant was then made for a Police Inspector, WPC and Health Visitor to enter the flat. On
entering the flat they found James and Lisa apparently clean and healthy. Koseda and Price claimed
that Heidi was staying with friends in Hounslow. They also told the officials that no-one could
enter the bedroom as it had been treated with anti-damp chemicals and it would be unsafe. Since the
warrant only applied to Lisa the officials left.

On New Years Eve the allocated Social Worker visited the flat and found all was well, she claimed
that Koseda and Price were pleasant and co-operative, and a case conference was allocated for the
22nd January 1985. The Social Worker visited again on the 2nd and 7th of January and noticed
bruising on James. Koseda and Price explained the bruises away with what she thought were plausible
explanations. The Social Worker called on the 3rd of January and became concerned about the
explanations given regarding Heidi's whereabouts. On the 15th January the Social Worker called
again and became further concerned as Koseda avoided answering questions regarding Heidi's
whereabouts.

On the 22nd January the neighbour again voiced her concerns.
During the case conference on the 22nd of January it was decided to place the children's names on
the at risk register.

On the 23rd of January 1984 Price was asked by police about the whereabouts of Heidi they then
arrested him being unhappy with his answers, police searched the flat in Woolacombe Way and found
Heidi's decomposing body. It was impossible for pathologists to say when exactly Heidi died but it
was thought that she had been dead for at least 2 to 3 weeks but more likely 6 to 8 weeks which
would put her death at early December.

Price claimed during his trial that he had stopped feeding Heidi due to her greediness for sweets in
August 1984; he claimed that she then refused to eat food and drink which resulted in her dying in
early November. The prosecution alleged that Heidi was placed in the bedroom for at least 2 weeks
without food and water, the bedroom door was secured by a broom handle from the outside. Heidi had
eaten strips of wall paper & carpet in a desperate attempt to feed herself.

Price was jailed for life, Koseda was committed to a mental hospital (both now free in the
community) the two remaining children placed in care and made wards of court.

It is horrifying to think that Heidi may well have still been alive during the visits (successful
and unsuccessful) made by Social Workers, Health Workers, NSPCC and Police.

Heidi was born on the 16th December 1980, she had a pretty angelic little face & beautiful blonde
ringlets. Heidi i will never forget you. xxxxxxxx