Young mother in the UK jailed after forcing a miscarriage after 32-weeks gestation

**Trigger warning: Some readers may find the nature and content of this article distressing.**

In December 2015, the Newcastle Crown Court sentenced Natalie Towers, of County Durham in England, to two-and-a-half years in prison, following her carrying out a forced, late-term miscarriage. The 24-year-old performed the induced miscarriage using a high dosage of abortion drugs she had purchased over the Internet. Ms. Towers admitted to administering a poison with intent to procure a miscarriage, claiming she carried out the intentional act because she “couldn’t deal with the stress”.

After self-administering the abortion medications she purchased from an online pharmacy the mother called an ambulance to her home in November last year, stating she was “having a miscarriage”. Paramedics who attended the scene reported they observed Towers being “happy and settled”, not showing any particular signs of distress, yet as one paramedic walked towards the bathroom containing the toilet Towers remarked:

“It’s dead. I know it’s dead”.

It was there that paramedics found the lifeless body of a male infant, later identified through autopsy as being between 32-34 weeks gestation, head-first down in the toilet in Ms. Towers’ home. The court heard on Friday from prosecutor, Sarah Mallett, that the paramedic officer who found the infant in the toilet was “very shocked”¦ what she saw there was a baby, head first in the toilet”¦ He was small but fully formed. She checked for signs of life but there was none found.’ All attempts made by the paramedics at the scene and the hospital were unsuccessful in reviving the newborn. Post-mortem reports deemed it conclusive that the child had died in utero, and had been birthed stillborn.

Police searches of Ms. Towers’ home later revealed an obscene amount of the abortion-inducing drug misoprostol. Packaging for 92 misoprostol tablets were found within the premises, but of the 92 doses only 13 whole or part tablets remained intact. Searches by police authorities of her computer also uncovered visits to an online pharmacy, as well as web-search queries for “babies born at 24 weeks” and advice on how she could effectively delete her internet browsing history.

Towers initially denied being aware of her pregnancy, yet later confessed to knowing she was indeed pregnant, but claimed to be uncertain of how far along she was. Her boyfriend, Sean Clark, whom she was living with at the time, was unaware of her pregnancy and was not home at the time she took the abortion drugs. It was noted in court that she has a history of emotional and mental health issues, and is suggested she already has one child, and has concealed a pregnancy previously. Her defence counselor, Daniel Cordey, maintained in court that Ms. Towers lacked knowing she was already so advanced in her pregnancy. Cordey stated to the court:

‘She would not have done what she did if she had been thinking fully, rationally, at the time. She realised she must have been pregnant. What she submits is, she didn’t realise she was as far pregnant as 32-34 weeks. She is remorseful, she greatly regrets her actions.‘

Mr Justice Jay, whilst acknowledging correctness in her action of admitting to procure a miscarriage, stated a custodial sentence was required to be handed down, with no option of a suspended sentence. The court heard the judge state:

“This case has nothing to do with the general immorality or otherwise of termination of unborn fetuses”¦ The law is clear, you must have been aware, no doubt, in line with your internet searches, it was open to you to seek termination at any stage before 24 weeks.”

Both the prosecuting counsel and the judge articulated the viability of the child at such a gestation was highly likely, with Ms. Mallett stating:

‘At that gestation, a normally formed foetus would be expected to survive, with appropriate and timely medical treatment.’

Mr Justice Jay, whilst accepting that he believed she may not have known how far her pregnancy had elapsed, concurred:

‘At 24 weeks there is a fair chance of survival if born premature. Your child, at 32-34 weeks had a very good chance of survival but had no chance once you administered this drug.’ and deeming her actions an intentional “extinguishing of life about to begin.”

The outcome of the case has sparked mixed responses from various Pro-Life groups in the UK, with some maintaining it was a “fair outcome”, whilst others proclaiming the sentence given was too lengthy, or that it shouldn’t have been treated as a criminal case. A spokesperson for the impartial British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) commented it is integral that pregnant women access professional help when making decisions pertaining to abortions, to ensure they are made aware that inducing their own miscarriages – rather than obtaining a legal abortion – under current British legislation can result in prosecution and a jail-term. Furthermore the BPAS representative also pointed out that the case highlights the need for greater ease of access to support and services for women like Ms. Towers who are struggling, and providing an assurance that those in her position can and will receive non-judgmental support and appropriate care. The current legal term for abortions in the United Kingdom is 24 weeks gestation.

Source: Daily Mail 

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