A woman was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail for keeping her baby daughter in a drawer under her bed until she was discovered weeks before her third birthday. The little girl, found at the family home in Cheshire, was found with deformities, rashes, and matted hair. Her developmental age was between that of a newborn and a 10-month-old when she was taken to the hospital.
The mother, who cannot be named to protect her children’s identity, hid the baby from her siblings by keeping her in a drawer under her bed. She kept the child’s existence a secret from her partner, who often stayed at the house. Despite looking after her other children well, she neglected the baby girl.
The child was left alone in the drawer while the mother attended to her other responsibilities. When the mother’s boyfriend stayed overnight, the child was moved to another room and left alone. The partner discovered the child when he returned to the house one morning and found her in the drawer.
Social services were alerted, and the child was found malnourished and dehydrated. The mother appeared indifferent to the situation when questioned by social workers. The child’s foster carer noted that she did not even know her own name.
The mother claimed she was unaware of her pregnancy and was scared when she gave birth. She described the child as not being a part of the family. Her other children, who were well cared for, no longer live with her.
In court, it was mentioned that the mother’s mental health, volatile relationship with the child’s father, and the COVID-19 lockdown were factors in the case. The motive behind the mother’s behavior remains unclear.
The woman pleaded guilty to child cruelty charges, including failure to seek medical care, abandonment, malnourishment, and neglect. The judge described her actions as defying belief and causing catastrophic consequences for the child.
The judge noted that the child, now slowly recovering, had experienced a living death in the room where she was kept hidden.
Overall, the woman’s actions were condemned, and it is hoped that the victim can recover and live a full life despite the ordeal she endured.
Can you please rewrite this sentence?
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