Mum-of-four with post-natal depression loses her kids after breaking baby’s ribs while changing nappy

A MUM-of-four who broke her baby's ribs as she was changing their nappy dodged jail because she was suffering from post-natal depression.

The 26-year-old from Willesborough, Kent - who cannot be named - lost custody of her kids and was handed a nine-month sentence suspended for two years because she was "at the end of her tether".

She pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm as the judge told the court "You were clearly overcome by post-natal depression and matters just got too much for you.

"And you were reckless in the way you handled the baby that you no doubt love. You have been dealt with mercifully and I hope things improve."

The woman also denied a charge relating to a fractured skull and her not guilty plea was accepted as she said the head injury was an accident.

She took her baby to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for treatment a week before Christmas 2015, but police were called after doctors raised the alarm that the injuries may have been "non-accidental".

The rib injuries were discovered later and social services were granted an emergency protection order to remove all four children including the baby from the house.

When interviewed by police, the mum said she didn't know how the injuries had happened but admitted "taking hold of the baby rather harder than she had intended"

The prosecution said she was trying to change the baby's nappy but struggled to control her other three kids and there was evidence she had been suffering from post-natal depression.

Her lawyer said she "was at the end of her tether", telling the court: "she was a full-time mum going through a difficult time and on the day things just got too much for her. This was in no way intentional."

The judge said that while causing injury to a defenceless baby is very serious "it would be quite wrong to impose an immediate custodial sentence."

He ordered her to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

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