Woman in court over lockdown abortion

A 22 year old woman has appeared in court and denied using poison to bring about an abortion during the first covid-19 lockdown.

Bethany Cox, from Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, is facing two charges at Teeside Crown Court.

The first offence is taking a drug with the intent of destroying the life of the child, who was capable of being born alive on 7 July 2020.

The second alleged offence was administrating poison with the intent of having a miscarriage between 2 -7 July 2020.

A seven day trial will start on 15 January and Cox was granted unconditional bail.

The case comes soon after that of Carla Foster, who ordered abortion pills during the early months of the Covid-19 'pills by post' scheme.

Women are only allowed to take both pills at home up to 10 weeks pregnant, but evidence suggested Ms Foster knew she was at least 28 weeks pregnant and still took them.

In the end, she was sentenced to 28 months in prison. This was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal and changed to a 14 months suspended sentence.