A baby left alone for days while her teenage mother partied for her birthday was unlawfully killed, a coroner said.

Asiah Kudi died after being left in a cold flat in Brighton in the middle of winter for six days while Verphy Kudi went to London and Coventry for her 18th celebrations.

But senior coroner Penelope Schofield said the tragedy could not have been predicted. She said Verphy Kudi committed “criminal acts so outside normal or predictable human behaviour".

At an inquest into the tot's death, Ms Schofield gave a conclusion of unlawful killing but said social workers could not have foreseen the “tragic events”.

A police investigation into the death of 20-month-old Asiah, known affectionately by her family as Navaeh, found she had been left alone at Gochers Court in Islingword Road, Hanover, 12 times in the nine weeks before she died.

The Argus: Verphy Kudi arriving in court in 2021Verphy Kudi arriving in court in 2021

Social workers gave evidence at the inquest, held at Sussex University, saying that Asiah and Kudi had a lot of support available.

Health visitor Julie Davidson told the inquest: “She had a health visitor, a nursery nurse.

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“She had a lot of professionals in place, she just didn’t access them.”

No serious concerns were raised at Gochers Court over Kudi’s parenting.

During the inquest Kudi, now 21, listened to evidence via a Teams link to HMP Bronzefield. She was jailed for nine years in 2021 after admitting manslaughter.

The Argus: Asiah KudiAsiah Kudi

Delivering a narrative conclusion, Ms Schofield said: “There is nothing the services could have done to foresee the tragic events that occurred.

“The circumstances of Asiah’s death could not have been predicted.

“These were criminal acts so outside normal or predictable human behaviour.”

At her sentencing in 2021, Lewes Crown Court heard how Asiah had learned crying for help was pointless.

Judge Christine Laing KC said: "It's quite clear to me the trigger event for you to abandon your child for almost six days was not stress but a desire to celebrate your birthday.

"It is almost unbearable to contemplate her suffering in the final days of her life.

"Suffering she endured so you could celebrate with your friends.

“You caused her unimaginable physical suffering."