MOTHER JAILED FOR ILLEGAL LATE-TERM ABORTION AFTER LYING ABOUT PREGNANCY
A woman named Carla Foster, who is a mother of three, was sentenced to jail after she lied about her pregnancy to illegally secure abortion pills.She found out she was pregnant in late 2019 following relations with two men, other than her estranged partner, and she was unsure of who the father was.
To avoid revealing her pregnancy, Foster conducted multiple internet searches in early 2020, asking questions such as 'How to not look pregnant,' 'How to hide the pregnancy bump,' and 'If you get hit in the belly will you lose your baby?' The court was told that she tried to hide her pregnancy from her partner by any means possible.
She contacted the British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS), falsely stating she was further along than she actually was.
BPAS advised her that if she answered their questions truthfully, she would receive medication.
She claimed she had no prior miscarriages, and BPAS subsequently sent her abortion medication, which included one mifepristone and four misoprostol tablets.
On May 9, she took the medication, and three hours later, she called emergency services.
Her baby, named Lily, was born at about 7 pm that evening, but was not breathing.
The baby was taken to hospital and was declared dead at 7:45 pm.
Prosecutor Robert Price explained, 'The prosecution case is she unlawfully procured the abortion of the child she was carrying by taking abortifacient drugs she had obtained by providing false details to a pregnancy service.' It was also noted that she was aware her pregnancy was over the legal limit of 24 weeks, with Lily being estimated at between 32 and 34 weeks gestation at the time of the abortion.
Foster admitted to administering poison with the intention to cause a miscarriage between May 8 and May 12, 2020.
Despite her remorse and emotional distress, she was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
Judge Mr.
Justice Pepperall stated that her conduct was unlawful but also recognized her emotional bond with her unborn child and how imprisonment could affect her family.
The court heard letters from medical and health organizations requesting a non-custodial sentence, warning that jail could discourage women from seeking medical help or honesty with professionals.
Ultimately, the judge decided that custody was appropriate, emphasizing that the law, as established by Parliament, must be enforced.
