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| Woman hid dead baby in car boot | Woman hid dead baby in car boot |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| A woman who admitted hiding the body of her dead baby in the boot of her car has been given a suspended sentence for trying to conceal his birth. | A woman who admitted hiding the body of her dead baby in the boot of her car has been given a suspended sentence for trying to conceal his birth. |
| Claire Jones, 32, became pregnant after an affair with a work colleague but kept it secret from her partner. | Claire Jones, 32, became pregnant after an affair with a work colleague but kept it secret from her partner. |
| Cardiff Crown Court heard she gave birth in December 2007 to a boy and hid his body in her car boot. | Cardiff Crown Court heard she gave birth in December 2007 to a boy and hid his body in her car boot. |
| Jones, from St Mellons in Cardiff, was sentenced to 48 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. | |
| The court heard Jones, a lab technician for a Swansea firm, gave birth secretly to the baby boy in the bathroom of a house on 28 December. | The court heard Jones, a lab technician for a Swansea firm, gave birth secretly to the baby boy in the bathroom of a house on 28 December. |
| The house belonged to the parents of her partner David Stoneman where she was staying over the Christmas period. | The house belonged to the parents of her partner David Stoneman where she was staying over the Christmas period. |
| Double life | Double life |
| The court heard she kept the pregnancy from her partner of 11 years, convincing everyone she was putting on weight due to an allergy. | The court heard she kept the pregnancy from her partner of 11 years, convincing everyone she was putting on weight due to an allergy. |
| But she had in fact been leading a "double life" and had been having an affair with Marcus Bezerra, a work colleague, who she said was the baby's father. | |
| During her affair, she told Mr Bezerra she had broken up with Mr Stoneman but was still sharing a house with him due to financial reasons. | During her affair, she told Mr Bezerra she had broken up with Mr Stoneman but was still sharing a house with him due to financial reasons. |
| Prosecutor Dan Williams said she had told a number of lies to work colleagues including saying she had cancer and told Mr Bezerra her mother had suffered a stroke. | Prosecutor Dan Williams said she had told a number of lies to work colleagues including saying she had cancer and told Mr Bezerra her mother had suffered a stroke. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Bezerra and Jones bought each other engagement rings and they even bought a car seat for their new baby. | Meanwhile, Mr Bezerra and Jones bought each other engagement rings and they even bought a car seat for their new baby. |
| She also told him her cancer was in remission. | She also told him her cancer was in remission. |
| The court heard how Mr Bezerra told police they were both very excited about having a baby together but she discouraged him from attending any hospital appointments. | The court heard how Mr Bezerra told police they were both very excited about having a baby together but she discouraged him from attending any hospital appointments. |
| On 22 December Mr Bezerra and Jones had a Christmas meal together and she stayed at his home. | On 22 December Mr Bezerra and Jones had a Christmas meal together and she stayed at his home. |
| The precise circumstances of the birth are known only to the defendant Dan Williams, prosecutor | The precise circumstances of the birth are known only to the defendant Dan Williams, prosecutor |
| She told him she was spending Christmas with her mother but would contact him when the birth started, the court heard. | She told him she was spending Christmas with her mother but would contact him when the birth started, the court heard. |
| But Jones spent Christmas at Mr Stoneman's parents' house in Penarth along with her own mother and saw a show on 27 December. | But Jones spent Christmas at Mr Stoneman's parents' house in Penarth along with her own mother and saw a show on 27 December. |
| On the same day, she sent Mr Bezerra a text saying her mother had died and she was in a hospice in Pontypool. | On the same day, she sent Mr Bezerra a text saying her mother had died and she was in a hospice in Pontypool. |
| The prosecutor said at some time in the morning of 28 December, Jones gave birth to a 7.5 lb (3.4 kg) baby boy in the ground floor toilet of Mr Stoneman's parents' house. | The prosecutor said at some time in the morning of 28 December, Jones gave birth to a 7.5 lb (3.4 kg) baby boy in the ground floor toilet of Mr Stoneman's parents' house. |
| "The precise circumstances of the birth are known only to the defendant," he said. | "The precise circumstances of the birth are known only to the defendant," he said. |
| "The pathologist who carried out a post mortem examination said it was not possible to know whether the baby had an existence." | "The pathologist who carried out a post mortem examination said it was not possible to know whether the baby had an existence." |
| Concern | Concern |
| The court heard that following the birth, Jones wrapped the baby's body in paper towels and a black bag and put it in the boot of her car. | The court heard that following the birth, Jones wrapped the baby's body in paper towels and a black bag and put it in the boot of her car. |
| The court heard that on 3 January, staff at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff became concerned because Jones was overdue. | The court heard that on 3 January, staff at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff became concerned because Jones was overdue. |
| A midwife spoke to someone who claimed to be the sister-in-law of Jones who told her she had missed an appointment because she had been involved in a car crash and had lost the baby. | A midwife spoke to someone who claimed to be the sister-in-law of Jones who told her she had missed an appointment because she had been involved in a car crash and had lost the baby. |
| However, another midwife was contacted by someone who also said they were related to Jones informing her that Jones was in Sheffield giving birth. | However, another midwife was contacted by someone who also said they were related to Jones informing her that Jones was in Sheffield giving birth. |
| The court heard at around the same period of time, Mr Bezerra received a text from Jones saying: "Our baby son has died, he did not survive the cancer." | The court heard at around the same period of time, Mr Bezerra received a text from Jones saying: "Our baby son has died, he did not survive the cancer." |
| Interview | Interview |
| On 5 January, Mr Bezerra went to Swansea police station saying he was worried about his baby and Jones. | On 5 January, Mr Bezerra went to Swansea police station saying he was worried about his baby and Jones. |
| She was arrested a day later and admitted hiding the baby's body. | She was arrested a day later and admitted hiding the baby's body. |
| A subsequent search of the house in St Mellons and her car led to the discovery of his body. | A subsequent search of the house in St Mellons and her car led to the discovery of his body. |
| In interview, Jones told the police she had wanted the baby: "I had carried it for so long. I was going to have to come clean as soon as the baby was born." | In interview, Jones told the police she had wanted the baby: "I had carried it for so long. I was going to have to come clean as soon as the baby was born." |
| She said she had tried to resuscitate the baby by mouth-to-mouth. | She said she had tried to resuscitate the baby by mouth-to-mouth. |
| Mr Stoneman was questioned initially but was later released without charge. | Mr Stoneman was questioned initially but was later released without charge. |
| Peter Heyward, defending, said Jones had attempted suicide since her deceit had come to light. | Peter Heyward, defending, said Jones had attempted suicide since her deceit had come to light. |
| Your campaign has had a devastating effect on two young men and their families Judge John Curran | Your campaign has had a devastating effect on two young men and their families Judge John Curran |
| The court heard she was not suffering from any mental illness but was being treated for severe depression and is in counselling. | The court heard she was not suffering from any mental illness but was being treated for severe depression and is in counselling. |
| Judge John Curran sentenced Jones to 48 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. | Judge John Curran sentenced Jones to 48 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. |
| "Your campaign has had a devastating effect on two young men and their families. This offence, although rare, is serious. The deception makes it more so," he said. | "Your campaign has had a devastating effect on two young men and their families. This offence, although rare, is serious. The deception makes it more so," he said. |
| "I am informed that since this matter came to light you have attempted suicide while suffering from depression and a consultant psychiatrist said it is likely you have a severe personality disorder. | "I am informed that since this matter came to light you have attempted suicide while suffering from depression and a consultant psychiatrist said it is likely you have a severe personality disorder. |
| "I do not consider that a immediate imprisonment would be appropriate." | "I do not consider that a immediate imprisonment would be appropriate." |
| At the end of the hearing, Jones collapsed in the dock and was comforted by court staff. | At the end of the hearing, Jones collapsed in the dock and was comforted by court staff. |