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| Mother fails to appear in court over covering up baby's death | Mother fails to appear in court over covering up baby's death |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A mother who admitted covering up the death of her child for more than a decade has failed to appear at court for sentencing. | A mother who admitted covering up the death of her child for more than a decade has failed to appear at court for sentencing. |
| Victoria Gayle, 32, pleaded guilty in December to preventing the lawful and decent burial of a child born in 2004. | Victoria Gayle, 32, pleaded guilty in December to preventing the lawful and decent burial of a child born in 2004. |
| Illness was blamed for her failure to appear at Kingston Crown Court. Sentencing was adjourned to 17 March. | Illness was blamed for her failure to appear at Kingston Crown Court. Sentencing was adjourned to 17 March. |
| Police officers involved in the case believe they saw Gayle nearby just before the hearing, the court heard. | Police officers involved in the case believe they saw Gayle nearby just before the hearing, the court heard. |
| Edward Brown QC, prosecuting, told the court that two detectives saw a vehicle being driven in an "erratic manner" and "they are convinced they saw the defendant driving the car". | Edward Brown QC, prosecuting, told the court that two detectives saw a vehicle being driven in an "erratic manner" and "they are convinced they saw the defendant driving the car". |
| Mr Brown said Gayle had proved unreliable in the past and was "a determined liar during the investigation". | Mr Brown said Gayle had proved unreliable in the past and was "a determined liar during the investigation". |
| He added "it seems to fit the past behaviour of the defendant". | He added "it seems to fit the past behaviour of the defendant". |
| Kate O'Raghallaigh, defending, said she was unsure whether Gayle was even able to drive. | Kate O'Raghallaigh, defending, said she was unsure whether Gayle was even able to drive. |
| She said her client was unwell and travelling to a hospital in Milton Keynes. | She said her client was unwell and travelling to a hospital in Milton Keynes. |
| Judge Susan Tapping asked that documents be sent to prove that Gayle attended hospital, but that "she should be arrested if this is a device to avoid coming to court". | |
| The court later confirmed it had been sent a document showing that she had attended a medical facility as a walk-in patient. |