November 27th 2024.
The judge was appalled by the woman's actions, remarking that they were almost unbelievable. It was revealed that the woman, who is a mother, had hidden her baby daughter in a drawer for the first three years of her life. The prosecution stated that the child had never experienced the outside world or even responded to her own name when she was first discovered at the family's home in Cheshire. As a result of this cruel treatment, the woman was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison by Judge Steven Everett.
Addressing the woman directly, the judge expressed his disbelief at her actions, stating that she had deprived her daughter of love, affection, attention, proper nutrition, and necessary medical care. He also noted that the woman had made every effort to conceal her actions, but was ultimately caught by chance. The consequences for her daughter were devastating, both physically and mentally. However, the judge did acknowledge that the child was an intelligent little girl who was slowly starting to come back to life after her traumatic experience.
The woman's terrible secret was uncovered when her partner returned home and discovered the baby in the drawer. The court was told that the woman had kept her child's existence a secret from her other children and her partner, who often stayed at the house. She also failed to seek medical help for her daughter's cleft palate and did not provide her with enough food and water, resorting to feeding her Weetabix through a syringe.
The prosecutor, Sion ap Mihangel, revealed that the child had been kept in a bedroom drawer and had no interaction with the outside world or anyone else. When she was first taken to the hospital, her developmental age was only ten months, despite being almost three years old. She was severely malnourished and dehydrated, which was a result of her neglectful mother's actions.
The child was left alone for long periods of time, even when her mother went to work or stayed with relatives over Christmas. When her mother's partner started staying overnight at the house, the child was moved to another room and left alone. It was during one of these instances that the child was discovered by her partner, who immediately alerted the authorities. A social worker who was present at the time stated that the mother showed no emotion and seemed unconcerned about the situation.
The child's foster carer, who was in tears, described the child's condition as "truly devastating." She revealed that the child did not even know her own name when she first arrived at the foster home. During her interview with the police, the woman claimed that she did not know she was pregnant and was scared when she gave birth. She also stated that the baby was not kept in the drawer all the time and that it was never closed. However, she admitted that the child was not considered part of the family.
The woman's lawyer, Matthew Dunford, explained that there were several factors that led to her actions, including her mental health, a tumultuous relationship with the child's father, and the Covid lockdown. The woman, who was visibly emotional, had her other children taken away from her. The senior crown prosecutor, Rachel Worthington, stated that the child had never experienced a birthday or Christmas and had no interaction with her siblings. She also reiterated that the woman's motives were still unclear, but that it was the job of the Crown Prosecution Service to bring her to justice.
In October, the woman pleaded guilty to four counts of child cruelty, encompassing her failure to seek medical care for her child, abandonment, malnourishment, and general neglect. The CPS's ultimate goal is for the child to recover and live as full a life as possible. The judge, while handing down the sentence, expressed the hope that the child would also receive the necessary support and care to overcome this traumatic experience.
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