A MOTHER abandoned her new-born baby on a doorstep after secretly giving birth at home because she believed her son was the result of an affair and feared what her husband would do if he found out, a court heard.

Leigh-Anne Varley, 36, researched how to have an emergency birth, before having the baby in the bath while her six-year-old son slept in the room next door.

She then wrapped the infant in a blanket and dressing gown and left it in the doorway of a nearby flat with a note saying: “Please take care of my baby boy. Please don’t go public. My husband is violent. He'll kill me”.

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But Peterlee Magistrates Court heard how Varley also feared the truth would cause a family split on the eve of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyland.

The healthy baby was found several hours later on the doorstep in Emerson Court, Horden, near Peterlee, and was taken hospital where he was named Jack by midwives.

Varley, of Park View, Peterlee, was given a suspended 14-week jail sentence after pleading guilty to assault, ill-treatment or neglect at an earlier hearing.

Outlining the “sad case” Sarah Traynor, prosecuting, said Varley had initially denied the baby was hers when she was approached by police but later admitted what had happened.

Varley, who lived with her husband, a 16-year-old-daughter and six-year-old son, told police that she believed the child was the result of an affair.

Miss Traynor said: “She was fearful of telling her husband as she was fearful of breaking up the family unit, mindful they had just booked a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Disneyland - and her daughter was also going through her GCSEs at school.

“She felt sure that the baby was not her husband’s and she feared [his] reaction if she told him about the affair."

Varley concealed the pregnancy by saying that she had an ovarian cysts and faked a negative pregnancy test by dipping it in the toilet.

She could not get abortion as her pregnancy was too far advanced and she suffered from epilepsy, the court was told.

She had planned to hand the baby in at walk-in centre, but was unable too because of the time of night she went into labour.

Her husband was working and her daughter out when she went into labour, the court was told.

After putting her son to bed, Varley prepared towels and other items, including scissors to cut the umbilical cord.

After giving birth at about 11.30pm on Wednesday May 27, she disposed of the placenta in a carrier bag leaving it in a wheelie bin, before leaving the newborn baby in the doorway of a flat.

Varley rang the doorbell and ran back home, believing someone would come out of the property. But the infant was not discovered until its cries alerted a neighbour's dog in the early hours.

Janice Clish, who found the baby on her doorstep, said at the time: "“My ex-boyfriend Russell Dobson who lives over the road was taking his dog for a walk around the block and was calling for him, but he wasn’t coming. Russell went over and saw the dog scratching around and discovered the baby.”

Varley returned home and shortly after the family booked their flights to Florida, the court was told.

Sheila Ramshaw, mitigating, said: “This lady has suffered a quite a lot over the last several months. “Notwithstanding that she is before you and you can see the way she is.

“This is more purely for her family that she feels the situation has become overbearing for her.”

Miss Ramshaw added: “She is of previous good character. This pressure has led to some mental health issues, which I understand she is now receiving some care for.”

“She has a family unit and she cars very much for them. To separate them could certainly not do anyone any good.”

Passing sentence, the chairman of the bench Mark O’Neil said: “First I can say I am not sending you to prison today. . .

“I am making a suspended sentence order for 14 weeks on condition that you do not commit another offence during the next 12 months.

“The reason I am suspending it is that you are obviously remorseful and there are mental health issues.”

Varley was also ordered to pay costs of £320.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “This has been a very sad case for all concerned.

“We would urge any woman who finds herself in such difficult circumstances to seek help from health professionals and associated agencies sooner rather than later to avoid a potential tragedy.”