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Teen Spared Jail for Newborn's Death
4 Feb
Summary
- A 15-year-old admitted causing her newborn's death.
- She was given a community order and rehabilitation.
- The baby was confirmed to have been born alive.
A young woman, who was 15 at the time of the incident, has avoided prison after admitting to causing the death of her newborn son. The court heard that police were alerted on February 1, 2022, after the then-teenager informed her school she had given birth.
She initially claimed the baby was not breathing upon birth, but postmortem examinations revealed the child had been born alive. The cause of death was determined to be suffocation. The father of the child shared the deep sorrow and lasting impact his family continues to experience.
Appearing at Preston Crown Court, the now 19-year-old pleaded guilty to infanticide. She was sentenced to a three-year community order and a 20-day rehabilitation order. This plea acknowledged the disturbance to her mental state following childbirth.
Throughout the pregnancy, she had denied it to family, friends, and school staff. Authorities described the case as tragic, emphasizing the profound and immeasurable effect on everyone involved.
