A young mother has been cleared of any wrongdoing after panicking and putting her dead baby’s body in a hedge.
The incident took place in Hampshire, UK, where a 21-year-old woman unexpectedly gave birth in her family home’s bathroom back in 2019.
Due to blood loss, the young woman, who didn’t know she was pregnant, passed out and when she woke up she found out her baby was no longer breathing.
Worried that she would be blamed for the baby’s death, the mother hid her body in a nearby hedge. After the body was found, the 21-year-old pleaded guilty to concealing her child’s death. The court now ruled that the young mum had already “suffered enough punishment” and gave her an absolute discharge, clearing her of any wrongdoing.
“She had not been aware of the pregnancy. She was home alone on the 27th December 2019 when she experienced what she believed at the time was extreme period pains,” Prosecutor Rhys Evans told the court.
“She ran a bath to ease the pain. She experienced the pain again and Ivory Rose was born in the bathroom.”
The prosecution added: “When she awoke, Ivory Rose was beneath her and no longer breathing. She tried to revive the child unsuccessfully.
“She believed she would be arrested and blamed for her death so she cut the umbilical cord with a pair of bathroom scissors. She wrapped Ivory Rose in a yellow towel and a t shirt, took her outside, placed her in a bush close to the address.”
The court also heard how the young lady refused to tell her family about what had happened because she didn’t want to disappoint them. It was also alleged that the baby’s father, a man in his 50s, had shown little interest in the baby’s birth and death.
Meanwhile, the defense argued that the woman was in shock after giving birth following unexpected pregnancy. They also pointed out that she was “just a frightened, vulnerable girl” who was groomed by an older man whom the judge referred to as “despicable.”
Calling the case “tragic,” District Judge Roderick Hine ruled that the young mum is “blameless” and that “she has already suffered enough punishment.”
“I hope anyone reporting this can make it clear that she is blameless and so is her family,” Judge Hine said as he gave the 21-year-old an absolute discharge.
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Replaced!