Mother who smothered her baby receives community order

MOTHER WHO SMOTHERED HER BABY RECEIVES COMMUNITY ORDER

A YOUNG mother who killed her baby at her council flat in Mere while she was suffering from acute postnatal depression has been spared a jail sentence.Caroline Tait (21), who was living in Southbrook when she smothered three-month-old Laura with a pillow, was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order by a judge at Winchester Crown Court.Originally charged with murder, she pleaded guilty in July to infanticide - killing the child when she had not fully recovered from giving birth.The hearing was adjourned for reports.Psychiatric reports by Dr Philip Milln, of the Priory clinic in Southampton, said Tait had killed Laura while suffering from a major depressive disorder.Mr Justice Richard McCombe told Tait on Friday that this was an extremely serious offence but said he accepted that the balance of her mind was disturbed and added that prison was not the right place for her.He told her she must undergo further medical treatment.DETECTIVE Inspector Richard Mahoney, who led the investigation on behalf of Salisbury Police, called it "a very tragic case for all concerned".

"I feel in the circumstances it was the appropriate sentence," he said.