A woman who planned a secret DIY home birth which was then carried out with help from her convicted sex offender partner has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Carlisle Crown Court heard of the meticulous steps taken to prepare for an arrival which was initially denied when police came knocking on the couple’s door in January 2022.
But officers heard crying and found the tot hidden in the West Cumbria house.
It had been born at the property in private to a mother aged in her 30s whose relationship with the child sex offender — the father — had continued despite serious previous concerns and social services involvement.
As a result of serious past crimes, the offender was subject to strict court-imposed notification requirements which meant he had to disclose to police within three days that he was living at a house in which a child resided.
Fearing further ramifications, the woman hushed up her pregnancy, received no antenatal care and took elaborate steps to keep the birth secret.
“She had researched labour and delivery on the internet,” said prosecutor Brendan Burke of the mother, who can’t be named to protect the young child’s identity. “She bought a heart monitor, ultra-sound gel, umbilical scissors and clamps.
The child sex offender assisted in the delivery through a water birth in the bath, in secret, clamped the umbilical cord and then cut it.”
But police acting on rumours then paid a visit and the baby — mercifully found fit and well — was removed and placed into emergency foster care. When arrested, the woman had told officers: “We just want to be a normal family.”
She admitted a charge of aiding and abetting the sex offender’s failure to comply with notification requirements.
Judith McCullough, giving mitigation, spoke of the mother’s traumatic background, a history of abusive and coercive relationships and of her mental health being fragile and in decline.
While with the sex offender she had become isolated with a fear and mistrust of authorities and outsiders instilled in her.
“She has now moved away from the relationship with (the man), living at an address which is not known to him,” said Ms McCullough. “She is trying to rebuild her life.”
Concluding that the best way to protect the public and help the woman was for for her to work with the probation service, Recorder Peter Horgan suspended a 10-month jail term for 18 months.
The woman must carry out unpaid work and rehabilitation, and observe a 12-week night time curfew.
“Thankfully that young baby was examined and found to be in good health,” said the judge. He told the woman: “You concealed the birth of your child because you simply put your feelings of affection for (the man) before your duty to your child.”
