November 28th 2024.
It's a story that has shocked and saddened many in Britain. A mother who kept her baby daughter hidden in a drawer under her bed for almost three years has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. The woman, whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, was brought before Chester Crown Court in northwest England, where the judge described her actions as a "living death" for her child.
According to reports from PA Media, the unnamed toddler was found with matted hair, rashes, and deformities at their family home in Cheshire. The court heard that the woman, who admitted to four counts of child cruelty, kept her daughter hidden from her partner and other children in the household. The judge, Steven Everett, was appalled by the mother's actions, stating, "To my mind, what you did totally defies belief."
He continued, "You starved that little girl of love, proper affection, attention, a healthy diet, and medical care. You tried to control the situation, but by chance, your terrible secret was discovered. The consequences for your child were catastrophic, both physically and psychologically."
The little girl, who is now in foster care, is said to be slowly recovering from the trauma she endured. Prosecutor Siôn ap Mihangel shared that when the child was taken to the hospital, she was malnourished and dehydrated. The court also learned that she was only fed milky cereal through a syringe and had an untreated cleft palate. She had no social interaction and a developmental age of only 0 to 10 months.
It was also revealed that the mother left her daughter alone for long periods, even when she went to work and when she visited relatives during Christmas. The child's mother would move her to another room when her partner stayed over, where she was left alone. However, the partner accidentally discovered the child when he heard noises coming from one of the bedrooms.
The woman showed no emotion when confronted by her partner and social services. A social worker who was present during the discovery shared, "It was a horrifying realization that I was probably the only other face the child had seen besides her mother's." In a police interview, the woman claimed she was unaware of her pregnancy and was scared when she gave birth. She also stated that the drawer was never closed, and the baby was not kept inside all the time, but she was not considered part of the family.
During the court proceedings, the child's foster carer revealed that the little girl did not even know her own name when they first took her in. The woman's defense attorney, Matthew Dunford, shed light on her mental health, a tumultuous relationship with the child's abusive father, and the COVID lockdown as contributing factors to her actions. He also mentioned that the other children in the household were well-cared for and no longer live with their mother.
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