A YOUNG mother sobbed and threw herself to the ground as she was sentenced to more than two years in prison for carrying out a DIY abortion using poison bought online.

Natalie Towers, 24, searched the internet for the poisonous drug which caused her to miscarry the fully formed baby boy when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant.

Towers, of Adamson Street, Shildon pleaded guilty to the offence at Newcastle Crown Court today (December 17) where, from behind the dock, she sobbed and threw herself to the ground as Mr Justice Jay sent her to custody.

Following submissions from The Northern Echo, a reporting restriction preventing the media from identifying the unborn child was lifted after being made ‘in error’ at a previous hearing.

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said Towers was living with her boyfriend Sean Clark in Bishop Auckland when she purchased the poison last year.

The court heard on November 4 she was found bleeding in the bathroom after a call was made for an ambulance during which she whispered she was having a miscarriage.

When paramedics arrived, Towers told them she was suffering from stomach pain. She was described her as ‘calm and relaxed’.

Moments later a female paramedic was said to have been ‘very shocked’ to discover a warm, ‘small but fully formed’ baby head first in the toilet – to which Towers said: “It’s dead, I know it’s dead.”

She told paramedics she did not know she was pregnant, the court heard.

Strenuous efforts were made to resuscitate the baby, named Luke Clark. He was taken to hospital, but did not survive.

Ms Mallett said the baby was likely to have been stillborn and died, according to a post-mortem, of oxygen deprivation but added: “At that gestation the baby would be expected to survive with proper treatment.”

Although Towers originally denied knowledge of her pregnancy, she later admitted taking the tablets because she thought she may be pregnant.

Her computer was seized from the flat and her browsing history revealed searches for abortion pills, how police accessed internet history and how to delete it.

The court also heard she had concealed a previous pregnancy when she gave birth prematurely.

Dan Cordey, for Towers, said: “She is remorseful and greatly regrets her actions. That remorse and regret is something that will live with her for the rest of her life.

"In her own words, she said 'When I look back I think it's awful, I hate myself, I hate it and I know it's my fault'."

Mr Cordey told Mr Justice Jay that Towers never had a pregnancy test and although she realised she must have been pregnant, she was not sure how far along.

The court heard she had suffered from depression and anxiety in the past and had a tendency to ‘act impulsively and without thinking’.

Mr Justice Jay said: “I’m satisfied the baby was already dead when he was delivered or placed in the lavatory.

“I’m satisfied you must have known you were pregnant. The case has nothing to do with the morality of terminating the lives of unborn foetuses.

“It was open to you to seek a termination on the NHS before 24 weeks gestation.

“At 24 weeks gestation the foetus has a fair chance of survival if born prematurely.

“Your child would have had a good chance. It had no chance after you administered this drug.

“The law does not accept the use of poison. The aggravating factor is that you took time to plan and prepare for it in the form of internet searches."

Mr Justice Jay added: “These cases need to be dealt with with an appropriate amount of compassion and humanity.”

After imposing the two-year and six month jail sentence for administering a poison with intent to procure a miscarriage he said: “The reason I can’t (suspend the sentence) is because this offence is too serious.”

In the UK, the legal abortion limit is up to 24 weeks and procedures must be carried out in a hospital or a licensed clinic, according to the NHS.

Clare Murphy, director of external affairs at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: “It is difficult to comment on individual cases when the full facts are unclear, but all pregnant women who feel they are no longer in a position to continue that pregnancy must feel able to seek help from healthcare professionals, and be encouraged to do so.

“Under current legislation women who induce their own pregnancies – even at the earliest gestations – need to be aware they can be prosecuted and face a prison term.

“We need open, accessible services in which women who are struggling with their pregnancy, for whatever reason that may be, know they will receive non-judgmental support and appropriate care.”

To access help visit www.bpas.org or contact Pandas, a Newcastle-based support group, via www.pandasfoundation.org.uk