A senior detective has spoken about the harrowing investigation into the murder of two-year-old Daniel James Hodgson Green.
The toddler was suffocated by his mother Carol Hodgson in February this year before the 40-year-old failed to take her own life.
Today, she was sentenced to life imprisonment for the callous murder of her son.
Speaking after the hearing, Cleveland Police's Detective Inspector Matt Hollingsworth spoke of the bravery of Daniel's heartbroken father, Stefan Green, and of the impact the investigation had on his team.
"This is the strangest case I have ever worked on. Stefan has read out in court his victim impact statement and it is heart-wrenching," he said.
"He has shown dignity throughout this ordeal, more dignity than I would have been able to show myself, he has been brilliant throughout this.
"It is almost incomprehensible that Carol Hodgson knew a long time in advance that she was going to kill herself. There has been no explanation offered, she picked the date, she picked the method, she knew when her child woke up that morning he thought it would be a normal day.
"She has fed him, it was a normal day but the sad thing is that on that day Carol knew she was going to kill him and attempt to kill herself in a completely selfish act.
"There is no other explanation for it."
Read more: 'He was my entire world' - Dad's heartbreak after toddler murdered by 'mum from hell'
Teesside Crown Court heard how Hodgson had killed Daniel on the morning of February 2 before trying to kill herself.
She was taken to hospital and charged with her son's murder two days later.
DI Hollingsworth added: "She failed to say how she had done or what she had done. It was our case that she suffocated him by placing him in a bag.
"How a pearent or mother can do that is beyond comprehension.
"This case has affected everybody it has touched - there was just no reason behind it. This case has taken a toll on myself and my team, and I would like to thank them for sticking with it and being professional throughout."
Read more: Judge's damning words as mum sentenced to life for murdering her two year-old son
And Christopher Atkinson, Head of the Crown Court Unit at CPS North East, said: "We worked closely with Cleveland Police to build a robust case against Hodgson.
"She had initially planned to kill Daniel and take her own life rather than allow her ex-partner Stefan Green to have joint access to his son."
He said Hogson had denied Daniel's father access since early in 2020 and she killed her son on the day she was due in court to take part in a 'fact-finding' hearing to decide the future plan for his care.
Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, jailed Hodgson for life and told her she would serve 18 years and four months before being considered for parole.
The 40-year-old, of Upper Garth Gardens, Guisborough, pleaded guilty to her son's murder at Teesside crtown Court last month.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here