Assault caused mum to miscarry

A PREGNANT woman lost her unborn baby after a thug allegedly broke into the house where she staying in Runcorn and threw her across a glass table.

Abbie Nesbit’s waters broke at just 13 weeks after she said a thug flung her across a table, after he barged into her mum’s home.

The 23-year-old said she had been staying at her mum’s address in Runcorn when she went to investigate banging at the front door, at around 5am, on August 11.

However when she opened the door, at first she believed it to be a neighbour,

An intruder barged past her and into her mum’s home.

Abbie, who was 13 weeks pregnant at the time, said she tried to bar the man’s way, but she claims the yob picked her up and flung her across a glass table, at which point she said she felt a ‘sharp stabbing pain’ in her stomach.

After hearing the commotion Abbie said the man was chased out of the house and the police were called.

However, tragically, after scrambling to her feet after the attack, the mum-to-be said she noticed her pyjamas were soaking wet.

She said: “I went to hospital and had an emergency scan which confirmed my amniotic fluid was leaking.”

Abbie, who lives in Walton, said she was sent home with antibiotics and a scan booked for three weeks time to check on her unborn baby.

But following the scan, Abbie’s worst fears were confirmed and tragically two weeks later her son’s heart stopped beating.

She delivered her baby boy at 20 weeks, who she called Jamie.

Heartbroken Abbie said: “When I got to my scan three weeks later the baby’s heart beat was strong but there was no fluid at all and the damage to the placenta was visible.

“I was told to prepare for the worst.

“I was devastated but my baby fought for another two whole weeks before I woke in the night with labour pains.

“I had to give birth to a still born little boy.

“My life changed for ever that day, he was perfect with a beautiful little nose, 10 fingers and 10 toes.”

A baby lost earlier than the 24 week mark is defined as a miscarriage which, according to guidance from the NHS, is ‘the loss of an embryo or foetus before it is developed enough to survive’.

And due to this nobody could be prosecuted under the Child Destruction Act.

The devastated call centre worker is now calling for a change in the law and her relatives have started an online petition which has so far gained 8,420 signatures.

Abbie said: “I’m traumatised by what happened, I had my first child stolen away from me.

“I’ve not got my child.

“My baby would have been born perfectly if I hadn’t been attacked.

“I had a son who had a perfect heartbeat and placenta.

“We believe, once a baby is 18 weeks, and you can see on the scans if it’s a boy or a girl, that’s should correspond to when a person should be criminally charged.

“I’d bought everything for my baby, now I’m left with lots of clothes which can’t be used. I don’t see my nieces or my nephews as it reminds me of losing Jamie.

“This has affected me so much, all those memories I’ll never get to make.”

Writing on an online petition, the family said: “Our aim is to put a legislation into place or change the Child Destruction Act (1929) that was made regarding backstreet abortions that used to take place.

“In the eyes of the law, your child does not count as a victim of any crime unless your pregnancy has passed the 24 week gestation period.

“This means if you kill an unborn child you cannot be charged with the murder of that child, you cannot be charged with assaulting an unborn child.”

The petition ends with the words: “In dedication to baby Jamie and all the other little hearts that stopped beating.”

Baby Jamie was buried in a tiny white coffin, scattered with blue and white flowers and carried by his dad.

Abbie said she was ‘so heartbroken’ and she claims she lost her job because she was too emotionally distraught to work.

Luke Bryant, Abbie’s dad, who started the petition, said: “She was happily preparing for the birth of her first child, counting down the days until she can finally find out if it’s a boy or girl.

“She spent her time picking baby names ... until she was assaulted by a man who forcefully entered her home, it moved her placenta and her waters started leaking.

“Our little man fought for two whole weeks until his little heart gave up.

“At 19-20 weeks our Jamie was born sleeping.”

He added: “There is no law in the UK to protect unborn children under 24 weeks, with the help of all of you we hope to change this – one signature at a time.

“Please help us on our journey, sign and share.”

In a statement, Cheshire police said: “At around 5.10am on Sunday, August 11 officers were called to reports of a domestic disturbance at an address on Kingshead Road, Runcorn.

“Officers attended the address and spoke to a 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who were both present at the address.

“No criminal offences were disclosed at that time, however it was agreed that the 24-year-old man would leave the address.

“Later that day at 8.40am, officers were re-contacted in relation to the incident by a third party who reported that an assault had taken place during the initial incident.”

Police added that a 24-year-old man was charged with two counts of assault by beating in connection with the incident, but the case against him has since been discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

To sign the petition, visit www.change.org/p/thegovernment-change-the-lawon-childdestruction/u/25141717