Grade-A student gives birth in jail after drugs sent her ‘off the rails’
A TALENTED student gave birth in prison after drugs turned her into a violent thug, a court heard.
Ciara Mansell, 22, was a gradeA student before going ‘off the rails’ and using ketamine.
Mansell was jailed for attacking two women, including her lesbian lover, and leaving the other victim scarred for life.
A court heard she was pregnant at the time of the last attack and gave birth while she was remanded in custody.
Yesterday Mansell sobbed as Judge Tom Crowther QC told her: ‘The tragedy is that your offending is in contrast to the way you were living your life.
‘You have been through the dreadful experience of having your child taken away from you within days of giving birth in prison. You are going to have to decide to change for yourself and for your child.’
Mansell, from Rhondda, South Wales, was studying for her Alevels when she met an older man who introduced her to the Class B substance ketamine and other drugs.
She racked up a series of convictions including causing actual bodily harm and harassment. In June last year she attacked her partner Holly Edwards, who feared for her life during a ‘sustained and bloody’ assault.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard she played loud music to drown out her lover’s screams.
Mansell later scarred a woman for life by throwing a pint glass at her head. After her arrest she sent abusive texts to a female witness calling her a ‘c***’ and saying: ‘You’ve got a mouth bigger than the Sahara Desert.’
James Evans, defending, said: ‘She was an A-grade student but she became involved with an older boy who introduced her to ketamine, among other things, and she went off the rails.
‘Her criminal record does not do her any good at all. But she has had a lot of time on remand to reflect.’ Mansell admitted wounding, causing actual bodily harm and sending offensive text messages.
She was jailed for two and a half years but will be freed early next year after serving part of her sentence while on remand.
Mansell was given a five-year restraining order preventing her from contacting her victims.
Her ‘deeply concerned’ mother is looking after the baby.