A woman has been jailed after she pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her daughter following the tragic death in Ealing last September.

Martina Madarova, 41, of Leyborne Avenue, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, 28 January charged with the murder of her five-year-old daughter Alijah Thomas.

At the hearing, Madarova entered a plea of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility the plea was accepted by the court and Madarova was sentenced at the same hearing to five years' imprisonment.

Police were called at 12:56hrs on Tuesday, 14 September after concerns for the welfare of the occupants of a flat on Leyborne Avenue were raised.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended but, despite their efforts, five-year-old Alijah Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Thursday, 16 September found the cause of Alijah's death was compression of the neck.

Martina Madarova was arrested at the scene and was charged with murder on Wednesday, 15 September.

She appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 16 September where she was remanded in custody.

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Alijah's father said: "No words could ever explain or put into context how I have felt since Alijah was taken from us. There is no escaping this situation, every day I have to live through the loss of my daughter and the impact it has had on us. This has changed our lives.

"I am not only suffering the loss of my daughter but I have also lost my partner in these tragic circumstances. Martina was more than just a partner, she was my best friend and my soul mate. This is a case of mental health. There is no hatred towards Martina."

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Shirley of the Met's Specialist Crime Command said: "This has been a truly harrowing investigation that involved the loss of an innocent young life at the hands of a loved one.

"I sincerely hope that Alijah's family are comforted by the knowledge that Martina Madarova will now receive the help that she needs. Our thoughts are with them today."