A HEAVILY pregnant woman locked up for assault lost her baby hours after being jailed.

The family of 20-year-old Katrina Robinson are demanding answers after the boy was stillborn seven weeks prematurely at the weekend.

Her mother, Sue Robinson, said the baby appeared perfectly normal and healthy during a scan last Thursday.

But on Friday, the young woman was jailed for 15 months at Teesside Crown Court after admitting affray - and hours later the baby had died.

Mrs Robinson, 41, and her husband, Leslie, 47, who lived with their daughter in Thornton Street, Hartlepool, have blamed the stillbirth on the trauma of the ordeal.

"I think it's the stress that's killed him," said Mr Robinson.

"If Katrina had not been jailed, we don't think she would have gone into premature labour and my grandbairn would have been alive today.

"The judge had no sympathy whatsoever and he jailed a heavily pregnant woman. She was in shock and we could not even get to her to calm her down."

Ms Robinson and her boyfriend, Terence Rowley, 26, of Chaloner Road, Hartlepool, were both jailed for attacking a 16-year-old girl.

Mrs Robinson said her daughter was placed alone in a cell at Low Newton prison at about 8pm on Friday. Soon after, her waters broke and she began to experience severe pain.

They said she immediately called for help, but was not taken to the University Hospital of Hartlepool until 1.10am.

By 4am, the baby, who they named Terence James Rowley Robinson, arrived stillborn.

But Mrs Robinson questioned why her daughter was not taken to Durham's Dryburn Hospital, which was closer.

"The doctors said they had no idea why he died," said mother-of-four Mrs Robinson.

"Katrina is devastated, but was sent back to Low Newton on Saturday afternoon and has not been allowed to grieve properly.

"She was back in handcuffs by 9am on Saturday and now she is back in a cell on her own.

"She should be allowed home to grieve for a while."

And she added: "I hope the courts and judges learn from this. Katrina has lost a baby and we have lost our first grandbairn. She should never have been jailed."

A spokeswoman from the Home Office said: "We can confirm that a prisoner at HMP Low Newton complained of stomach pains at 1.10am on Saturday morning. By 2.20am, she was at Hartlepool hospital, where she received treatment."

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out.