A British mother has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for hiding her infant daughter in a drawer under her bed for almost three years. The shocking case, described by the judge as a “living death,” unfolded at Chester Crown Court in northwest England.
The unnamed child was discovered just weeks before her third birthday, severely malnourished, dehydrated, and suffering from untreated health conditions, including a cleft palate. According to the prosecution, the toddler had a developmental age of 0 to 10 months and had been fed only milky cereal through a syringe.
Judge Steven Everett condemned the mother’s actions, saying:
“You starved that little girl of any love, any proper affection, any proper attention, any interaction with others, a proper diet, much-needed medical attention. The consequences for [the child] were nothing short of catastrophic – physically, psychologically, and socially.”The mother, whose identity has been withheld for legal reasons, admitted to four counts of child cruelty. Prosecutor Siôn ap Mihangel revealed that the child was kept isolated, hidden from her mother’s partner, and left alone during school runs, work shifts, and even holidays.
The disturbing truth came to light when the partner accidentally discovered the child after hearing noises from a bedroom. Social services intervened and found the girl hidden in a drawer.
When confronted, the mother appeared indifferent. A social worker described their shock, stating:
“It became an overwhelming horror that I was probably the only other face [the child] had seen apart from her mother’s.”In court, the woman claimed she did not know she was pregnant and gave birth in secret out of fear. She said the drawer was never fully closed and the child was “not part of the family.”
Defense attorney Matthew Dunford argued that the mother’s mental health, the abusive relationship with the child’s father, and the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdown created exceptional circumstances.
Now in foster care, the child is beginning to recover. Her foster carer shared:
“It became very apparent she did not know her own name when we called her.”The judge described the case as incomprehensible, highlighting the long-term impact on the child’s life. Meanwhile, the woman’s other children, who were well cared for, no longer live with her.
