Unnamed Woman
Child Cruelty *
Sentence
7.5 years imprisonment
The woman gave birth to a baby girl without seeking medical help and concealed her existence from her partner and other children by hiding her in a drawer under her divan bed from birth until the child was nearly three years old. The child was discovered at the family home in Cheshire when the mother's partner heard a noise and found her in a bedroom, later alerting social services who located her in the bed drawer. The child suffered severe neglect, including malnourishment, dehydration, developmental delay (age equivalent of 0-10 months), matted hair, deformities, rashes, and an untreated cleft palate. She was fed milky Weetabix via syringe, left alone for extended periods including school runs, work, and family visits over Christmas, and had no socialization, daylight, or interaction with siblings. The concealment was motivated by fear of the abusive father discovering the pregnancy.
Pleaded guilty to four counts of child cruelty. Judge Steven Everett commented that the actions defied belief and starved the child of love, affection, attention, interaction, proper diet, and medical care. Mitigating factors included mental health issues, volatile relationship with the child's father, and Covid lockdown.