This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_east/7192173.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Woman sentenced for baby hoaxes | Woman sentenced for baby hoaxes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A mother-of-four who made hoax calls to maternity units and "all" police forces has been placed under supervision. | A mother-of-four who made hoax calls to maternity units and "all" police forces has been placed under supervision. |
| Rachel Marsh, 28, lived in a "fantasy world," telling authorities she was 14 and in labour and had been raped by her stepfather, Chester magistrates heard. | Rachel Marsh, 28, lived in a "fantasy world," telling authorities she was 14 and in labour and had been raped by her stepfather, Chester magistrates heard. |
| Marsh, of Rhyl, Denbighshire, spent thousands on hoax calls and texts, even sending one from a custody suite while waiting to be interviewed by police. | Marsh, of Rhyl, Denbighshire, spent thousands on hoax calls and texts, even sending one from a custody suite while waiting to be interviewed by police. |
| Marsh admitted wasting police time and two harassment charges. | Marsh admitted wasting police time and two harassment charges. |
| The court said, had caused "considerable disruption to police and hospitals". but the cost of hundreds of wasted police hours was unknown. | The court said, had caused "considerable disruption to police and hospitals". but the cost of hundreds of wasted police hours was unknown. |
| Single mother Marsh, who is now 28 weeks pregnant, texted a midwife in Cheshire in February 2007 to say she was a 14-year-old in labour. | |
| She later sent messages claiming the baby was a result of her stepfather raping her, and that he had "snatched" the baby and intended to throw it in a canal. | She later sent messages claiming the baby was a result of her stepfather raping her, and that he had "snatched" the baby and intended to throw it in a canal. |
| Padded bras | Padded bras |
| The court heard at least eight police officers were trying to locate her. | The court heard at least eight police officers were trying to locate her. |
| Sometime later, Cheshire Police discovered she had been making similar calls in north Wales. | Sometime later, Cheshire Police discovered she had been making similar calls in north Wales. |
| Marsh was arrested in February and, while awaiting interview, was still sending hoax messages from the custody suite. | Marsh was arrested in February and, while awaiting interview, was still sending hoax messages from the custody suite. |
| She was searched and was found to be wearing two padded bras, a swimsuit and had used a blanket to give the appearance she was pregnant. | She was searched and was found to be wearing two padded bras, a swimsuit and had used a blanket to give the appearance she was pregnant. |
| Police also discovered three sim cards, the court heard. | Police also discovered three sim cards, the court heard. |
| Prosecutor Anne Rouse said:"During interview she admitted making thousands of calls over nine months to maternity units in England and Wales and contacted all forces reporting to be a 14-year-old girl in labour having been raped by her stepfather." | Prosecutor Anne Rouse said:"During interview she admitted making thousands of calls over nine months to maternity units in England and Wales and contacted all forces reporting to be a 14-year-old girl in labour having been raped by her stepfather." |
| 'Fictitious matter' | 'Fictitious matter' |
| She added:"She would state she was bleeding heavily, stating that the baby had been snatched." | She added:"She would state she was bleeding heavily, stating that the baby had been snatched." |
| Ms Rouse read a victim statement from a midwife in Bangor whom Marsh had contacted. It read: "The episode was in my mind for a couple of weeks. It's since bothered me that someone can waste my time with a fictitious matter when my time and that of others could be used for a genuine need." | Ms Rouse read a victim statement from a midwife in Bangor whom Marsh had contacted. It read: "The episode was in my mind for a couple of weeks. It's since bothered me that someone can waste my time with a fictitious matter when my time and that of others could be used for a genuine need." |
| Another victim told how they were "concerned that someone was going to find a young girl dead". | Another victim told how they were "concerned that someone was going to find a young girl dead". |
| Ms Rouse said one police officer alone spent 350 hours investigating and other officers had spent more than 500 hours. | Ms Rouse said one police officer alone spent 350 hours investigating and other officers had spent more than 500 hours. |
| She added:"The cost of this investigation is in fact unknown. It's believed this lady spent thousands making calls." | She added:"The cost of this investigation is in fact unknown. It's believed this lady spent thousands making calls." |
| 'Fantasy world' | 'Fantasy world' |
| Defending, Elen Parry said the offences had taken place over a shorter period than nine months. | Defending, Elen Parry said the offences had taken place over a shorter period than nine months. |
| She said Marsh had sought attention and had "got immersed in a fantasy world". | She said Marsh had sought attention and had "got immersed in a fantasy world". |
| Marsh had claimed to be making the hoaxes with a 16-year-old girl, she said. | |
| She said Marsh's "infantile" and "stupid" behaviour may have been triggered by problems in childhood and her grandfather's death in 2006. | She said Marsh's "infantile" and "stupid" behaviour may have been triggered by problems in childhood and her grandfather's death in 2006. |
| Magistrates sentenced her to a three-year supervision order and imposed a three-month nighttime curfew She was also ordered to pay £300 costs. | Magistrates sentenced her to a three-year supervision order and imposed a three-month nighttime curfew She was also ordered to pay £300 costs. |
| Magistrates' chair Patricia Bogunovic said the sentence had been reduced because of Marsh's guilty plea. | Magistrates' chair Patricia Bogunovic said the sentence had been reduced because of Marsh's guilty plea. |
| She said the hoaxes had caused "considerable distress to the police and hospital services". | She said the hoaxes had caused "considerable distress to the police and hospital services". |
| She added:"We would hope that when you are having your baby, you are not disrupted by hoax calls from any other source." | She added:"We would hope that when you are having your baby, you are not disrupted by hoax calls from any other source." |