Jennie Gray, the mother of murdered six-year-old Ellie Butler, is appealing against her conviction for child cruelty and perverting the course of justice.

Sutton father Ben Butler, Gray’s partner, was jailed for life with a minimum term of at least 23 years for killing Ellie in a fit of rage - 11 months after winning her back in a high-profile custody battle.

Gray, 36, was jailed for 42 months in June after being convicted of child cruelty, having already admitted perverting the course of justice.

A post-mortem examination concluded Ellie’s death was caused by the little girl being either beaten over the head with a heavy object or thrown against the floor or a wall.

The couple angrily protested their innocence when jurors returned their verdicts after three days of deliberations.

Gray told them they had made a "big mistake", while Butler shouted angrily that he would "fight forever" and appeal against their decision.

A spokesman for the Court of Criminal Appeal said today: “Jennie Gray has made an application for permission to appeal against her conviction.”