CUMBRIA'S senior coroner has formally referred his decision on the death of tragic Poppi Worthington to crown prosecutors.

David Roberts concluded yesterday that the 13-month-old tot had been sexually assaulted by her father Paul Worthington before she died after being placed to sleep in his bed.

The cause of her death was asphyxia.

Today, a copy of Mr Roberts ruling has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, his office confirmed.

It is hoped this could pave the way for criminal charges to finally be brought forward in relation to the attack sustained by the little girl at her home in Barrow.

However, a spokesman for the Cumbria coroner warned the CPS 'could not be compelled' to review evidence held in the case of Poppi.

The spokesman added: "The Coroner has formally referred a copy of his decision to the CPS.

"But Coroners cannot compel the CPS in this case. It is now up to the CPS as independent prosecutors to decide what, if anything, might be done."

The CPS has already reviewed the case of Poppi Worthington on two occasions since her sudden death on December 12 2012.

But a criminal prosecution has been ruled out on on each occasion because of well documented failings in the police investigation which saw officers fail to secure or obtain key pieces of evidence.

The conclusion of the inquest listed these as Paul Worthington's bedsheet, the kitchen roll seen on his double bed in police photographs, Poppi's pink elephant pillow, her pyjama bottoms, last nappy, Mr Worthington's laptop and mobile phone.

The sheet upon which she lay in the ambulance and emergency department at Furness General Hospital, as well as any equipment used by medics as they attempted to save her life, should also have been retained, Mr Roberts stated.

Cumbria Constabulary's chief constable Jerry Graham is set to pursue meetings with CPS officials to discuss ways to seek further action in the case.

In a statement read aloud at the closing of the inquest by the chief constable, he said: "I will consider the detail of the coroner's conclusion and his comments today and we will be having an early discussion with the Crown Prosecution Service in order to determine possible courses of action."

The narrative conclusion to Poppi's inquest finally shed some light on what is believed to have happened to the tot in the hours before she died.

Poppi's father, 50, had always denied any wrong doing in relation to his daughter.

But Mr Roberts found Mr Worthington's account of what happened 'lacked credibility'.

The coroner concluded Poppi had sustained injuries during a sexual attack before suffocating while asleep in an 'unsafe sleeping environment' some time later.

The ruling is the third time a court has ruled Poppi had been a victim of child abuse following two earlier judgements in the High Court.