HOLLY KELLAND AND CODIE FARRAR'S SHOCKING BABY KIDNAP PLOT IN EVESHAM AND WOLVERHAMPTON

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Evesham, Wolverhampton, and Derby, two teenage girls, Holly Kelland and Codie Farrar, have been convicted of conspiring to kidnap three newborn babies through a sophisticated social media scam. The incident, which unfolded over a period from September 14 to September 23 of the previous year, involved elaborate deception, false identities, and dangerous planning aimed at snatching vulnerable infants from their homes.

Holly Kelland, then 17 years old and residing in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, orchestrated the scheme by creating a fake Facebook profile under a pseudonym. Her intent was to contact mothers with newborns, enticing them with offers of designer baby clothes and other prizes in raffles, thereby obtaining their personal contact details and addresses. Kelland’s manipulative tactics included sending messages promising rewards such as baby clothes worth £100 or even a Segway board, which she used to lure unsuspecting mothers into revealing their home addresses.

Meanwhile, her accomplice, 17-year-old Codie Farrar from Evesham, Worcestershire, traveled to Derby with Kelland by train. On September 21, Farrar arrived at a mother’s residence in Normanton, Derby, posing as a social worker. She claimed that she needed to take the mother’s two-week-old son away for a brief medical assessment, a ruse designed to facilitate the kidnapping. The court heard that Farrar, pretending to be a healthcare professional, asked to hold the infant, but her handling of the child raised suspicion. She did not hold the baby’s head correctly, which alarmed the mother.

When Farrar expressed her intention to take the baby for 30 minutes, the mother refused, sensing something was amiss. Farrar’s nervousness increased, and she left the house hurriedly. The mother, alarmed by the encounter, contacted the police, who confirmed that the visit was not legitimate. Farrar was subsequently arrested, and during police interviews, she revealed that Kelland had recruited her for the kidnapping plot. Farrar explained that their plan was motivated by the fact that her sister was unable to have children, and they intended to take the babies to fulfill some perceived need or desire.

Further investigation revealed that Kelland had been faking a pregnancy at the time of the offences. She had even convinced her own mother, a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), that she was pregnant. Evidence found at her home included a fully equipped nursery, a fake 3D scan, and sonogram images, all fabricated to support her false pregnancy claims. Kelland’s deception extended to producing a note purportedly from a maternity unit, which was later confirmed by hospital staff to be entirely false.

Both girls admitted to conspiring to kidnap three babies during their court hearing at Derby Youth Court. They were sentenced to 12 months detention and training orders, reflecting the seriousness of their actions. District Judge Jonathan Taaffe emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “This is a case of extreme seriousness. A plan was hatched to kidnap a baby, and although it was not carried out, only the vigilance of the mother prevented a tragedy.” He highlighted that the scheme involved elaborate planning, including the use of fake social media profiles, travel to different areas, and impersonation of social workers, all of which caused significant distress to the families involved.

The court also heard that Kelland had produced a fake ultrasound and scan images to deceive her own mother and others into believing she was pregnant. The hospital staff confirmed that she had no access to maternity care, and the images were fabricated. Kelland faced additional charges of fraud by false representation, for which she received a concurrent four-month detention and training order.

Victims of the scheme provided emotional testimony, describing the lasting impact of the ordeal. The mother of Baby U from Wolverhampton expressed her distress, saying, “After it happened, I kept breaking down at the thought of what could have happened if my baby had been taken. I cried constantly, and it has affected my trust in people. I don’t like being home alone anymore, and I feel paranoid when I go out with my baby.”

Similarly, the mother of Baby S recounted her fear and anxiety, stating, “This incident shook me to my core. I was too frightened to return home immediately and had to stay at my mother’s house for a week. I was scared someone might follow me from her house to mine.”

Legal representatives for Kelland and Farrar provided context for their actions. Kelland’s solicitor acknowledged her mental health issues, suggesting that impulsive behavior may have influenced her involvement. Farrar’s defense highlighted her immaturity and her candid admission of involvement, emphasizing that her actions, although serious, were not driven by violence or threats but by deception and manipulation. The court’s verdict underscores the importance of addressing such dangerous schemes, especially when they involve vulnerable infants and families, and the need for strict legal consequences to deter similar offenses in the future.