Courtney Gartshore, 28, has been jailed for six years for killing her three-month-old daughter, Dahlia-Rose Gartshore, by subjecting her to “significant and sustained heat” from a hairdryer.
The incident occurred on September 30 2023 at an address on King Street in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Emergency services were called, but Dahlia-Rose was pronounced dead at the scene. Gartshore had been drinking while in sole charge of the infant.
Investigation and conviction
An investigation was launched, and Gartshore, from Aberdeen, was arrested and charged in November 2023. She was convicted of culpable homicide following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen in July. Sentencing took place at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday.
Her defence lawyer, Murray Macara, said he could not provide a reasonable or compelling explanation for why she used the hairdryer but speculated that the baby was cold and that she may have attempted to “recklessly” use it as a source of heat.
Judge's remarks
Judge Simon Collins KC called it a “uniquely disturbing” case. He said: “It is tragic as well as terrible. You will have to live the rest of your life with the knowledge that you were responsible for her death. This was a gross breach of the most basic duty as a parent.”
Although Judge Collins acknowledged that Gartshore had not intended to harm or kill her baby, he said she was culpable in the “highest degree” of carelessness. He added that it “should have been obvious” that Dahlia-Rose was in “severe distress and pain”. He said her likely cause of death was hyperthermia and heat stroke.
Defence and impact
Mr Macara called it a “truly tragic and distressing case”. He said Gartshore has spent approximately 23 hours a day in her cell since being taken into custody, to ensure her own safety and protection. He noted her history of childhood trauma, mental health problems, overdoses and self-harm, but argued she had provided appropriate care to her baby up until the night of her death.
The court heard that Gartshore used the hairdryer on Dahlia-Rose for up to an hour, resulting in burns to approximately 18% of her body surface, particularly to her head, neck, upper body and one arm. The injuries were “severe and disfiguring” but evidence suggested they were likely “survivable”. Gartshore maintained she had no recollection of using the hairdryer on her baby.
Following the conviction, Detective Inspector James Callander said: “Children are defenceless and should be protected. The death of any child is particularly harrowing, but a child’s death at the hands of a parent is incredibly disturbing.” He expressed thanks to all involved in the inquiry and the local community for their support.
