A nurse who stabbed her four-year-old daughter to death before attempting to kill herself has been jailed for 12 years.
Dawn Makin, 35, became depressed after she was sacked following allegations that she passed information about patients to a personal injury claims firm.
Makin, now in a wheelchair after drinking anti-freeze in her suicide bid, earlier admitted the manslaughter of her daughter, Chloe Burke, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Nurse Dawn Makin killed her daughter and attempted suicide
Preston Crown Court heard today that she was suffering an "abnormality of mental function" when she stabbed Chloe to death and then drank the anti-freeze at their home in Bury, Greater Manchester.
Peter Wright QC, for the prosecution, said: "She was no longer able to form a rational judgment and believed the only way was to kill herself and her daughter."
He said the nurse practitioner lost her job at Moorgate Walk-in Centre in Bury after passing patient details to her boyfriend, Martin Campbell, who worked for a personal injury claims firm.
Mr Wright said: "Sadly, an agreement was reached between the defendant and her partner that she would supply details of patients at the clinic."
In May 2010, a complaint was made by a patient, and Makin was suspended pending an investigation, the court heard.
Three months later she was dismissed.
"That was an event that was to have a considerable effect on this lady, both financially and psychologically," Mr Wright added.
Makin and Campbell split in January 2011 causing her further "considerable distress", the court was told.
The following month, on Valentine's Day, she learned she was to be summonsed to court to face data protection charges.
Two days later Makin and her daughter were found when the defendant's mother, Sheila, forced her way into the house with a neighbour.
Chloe was lying dead on her mother's bed in clean pyjamas and a dressing gown surrounded by cuddly toys.
She had suffered knife injuries to her chest, neck and throat.
Following the attack her mother had removed her blood-stained pyjamas and put them in a washing basket before dressing her in clean clothes.
Makin was found alive but with serious injuries and rushed to hospital.
Mr Wright added: "The defendant had cut her wrist, there was a bottle of anti-freeze on the floor and anti-freeze in a glass nearby.
"Police were called and the defendant was taken to hospital where her life was saved.
"The effect of the anti-freeze was to leave her permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair."
He said a number of suicide notes were found and also "an apology".
In one of the notes Makin said: "I had no choice, my life was wrecked."
She also wrote on a picture of her daughter: "I'm so sorry I've taken her away from you all but I couldn't leave her with no money, that would be too cruel. Sorry."
Nick Johnson QC, defending Makin, said it was a case of "extended suicide".
He said psychiatric examination of the mother revealed she believed her daughter was an "emotional extension" of herself.
He said: "The defendant genuinely believed that if she took her own life, her daughter would be better off dead.
"She did not try to kill herself because she killed Chloe. Dawn Makin killed her daughter because she wanted to kill herself."
In the 18 months since Chloe was killed Makin has received psychiatric care, Mr Johnson said.
He described her as "no longer a cause for concern" but told the court Makin's physical condition made her "acutely vulnerable".
He added: "She has to live with the fact that she killed her child, something she can't remember.
"She has severely tested the bond with her parents and she has deprived them of their granddaughter's love.
"Finally, she has inflicted a terrible injury on herself and none of this can be undone."
Makin sobbed throughout the hearing as she sat in her wheelchair in the dock.
Her parents and Chloe's father, Michael Burke, also sobbed at times as they followed the proceedings in the public gallery.
Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Russell QC, the Recorder of Preston, said the facts of the case were "appalling".
He said: "Two highly experienced and distinguished psychiatrists agreed that at the time of the killing you had developed an abnormality of mind which arose from a recognised medical condition, namely a depressive disorder.
"Although you were able to understand the nature of your conduct, you were no longer able to form a rational judgment and were of the belief that there was no alternative but to kill yourself and your daughter."
He said the loss of her job "appeared to trigger" the onset of Makin's mental health problems.
He also noted a statement given by Mr Burke which described the defendant as a "fantastic mother who doted on Chloe".
"This case must be treated as one where an intention to kill is proved," Judge Russell added.
"The victim was your four-year-old child, vulnerable and someone who trusted you.
"Chloe must have undergone considerable physical and emotional suffering."
He jailed Makin for 12 years and ordered she serve at least six years before she can be released on parole.