A nine-day-old baby died after ingesting cocaine through breast milk. Andrew Maunder and his partner Rochelle Thomas were staying at the Hotel Victoria in Cornwall after the birth of their baby girl Darcey. They were waiting to move back up north to have the support of Thomas's family, CornwallLive reports.
On November 11, 2023, Darcey was found dead from cocaine poisoning after ingesting the Class A drug through breastfeeding. Police and paramedics attended the scene, but Darcey was pronounced deceased shortly after they arrived at about 11am.
Parents arrested and charged
Maunder, 29, from Trelowarren Street in Camborne, and Thomas, 30, from Fiddlers Green near Newquay, were discovered screaming and distraught by Thomas's own mum in their hotel room as Darcey lay unconscious with blood on her face. The pair were arrested and each charged with a single count of child neglect, which they pleaded guilty to at the first opportunity.
A sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court on Thursday, October 1, heard how Maunder would sometimes have several lines of cocaine a night while Thomas also had cocaine before and after the birth of her daughter. Toxicology analysis of their hair and blood showed long-term cocaine use, meaning Thomas had used cocaine during her pregnancy and shortly after her daughter was born.
Prosecution details
Joss Ticehurst, prosecuting, said Thomas's and Maunder's use of the Class A drug was such that they had "put their baby daughter's health at risk." He said cocaine could have been ingested by the newborn baby as it was on her parents' clothes, fingers, hands, and was on a cup on the bedside table.
Mr Ticehurst said analysis of baby Darcey's blood showed she had cocaine in her system. He said: "Ms Thomas was breastfeeding Darcey and cocaine can be ingested by a baby through breastfeeding." Cocaine in a very young child can lead to fever, loss of consciousness, heart issues, and death.
Mr Ticehurst said it was not possible to say for certain that the cocaine found in Darcey's blood was the same found in the room, but added that Thomas's use of cocaine while breastfeeding and during her pregnancy had likely put her child's health at risk. He said that at first Maunder had denied taking the drug and denied Thomas had taken cocaine too. Thomas, however, said Maunder could have several lines of cocaine at night and admitted using a couple of days after giving birth.
Defence and sentencing
Thomas has no previous convictions, while Maunder has previous convictions for possession of cannabis and assaulting a police officer. Victoria Bastock, defending Maunder, said it was a very difficult case for all involved and a "tragic set of circumstances." "It is a tragedy keenly felt by both defendants," she told the court. "The loss of Mr Maunder's daughter is something he will never be able to overcome and be reconciled with."
Ms Bastock said Maunder and Thomas had been seeking help at the time of the incident and had been mere days away from moving back up north to be with Thomas's family and the support they would have provided.
His Honour Judge Simon Carr said such a young child should never have been brought anywhere near cocaine. "Darcey was entitled to rely on you for her protection. You entirely failed her," he said. "You allowed your addiction to take precedence over your baby. Not just on the day but in the months of your pregnancy."
Judge Carr noted how Maunder and Thomas had been visibly distraught by the loss of their baby. He said the most likely explanation for Darcey's cocaine ingestion was through breastfeeding. He noted Thomas's post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and how she had used cocaine as a coping mechanism for her own traumatic childhood and how "matters have moved on in a positive way" since the death of Darcey.
Judge Carr also noted Maunder's remorse and poor mental health as a result of his baby's death. "Nothing I say or do can bring Darcey back or alleviate the pain," he said. "Nothing will be achieved three years after the incident by sending you to prison."
He sentenced Maunder and Thomas to two and a half years in prison, suspended for three years. They will both be required to undertake some rehabilitation work with probation services for 12 months, and Thomas will also have to do a drug rehabilitation requirement programme for six months.
