A woman who threw her newborn baby down a rubbish chute at a tower block has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for inflicting grievous bodily harm. Jaymin Abdulrahman, 25, was cleared of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Birmingham Crown Court.
The infant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered skull fractures and brain injuries after falling more than 12 metres (40ft) into a bin store at a block of flats in Wolverhampton last September. Prosecutors alleged Abdulrahman deliberately placed her baby in the chute with the intention of killing her, but she denied the charges.
Judge Mrs Justice Kate Thirlwall accepted the incident was not premeditated and that Abdulrahman was suffering from postnatal psychosis at the time. Sentencing her, the judge said: 'You will have to live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life. As you said yourself, you were her mother. You should have been her guardian.'
Abdulrahman initially told police her child had been kidnapped, but the baby was found hours later at the bottom of the chute. She later admitted putting the baby in a bin liner and throwing her away, stating she had 'lost control of her thoughts'. The court heard she had been crying while cleaning her bathroom shortly before the incident.
Prosecutor Andrew Smith QC told the court the baby was at high risk of learning difficulties and developing cerebral palsy, requiring lifelong support. Abdulrahman, who came to the UK from Iraq in 2011, must serve half of her 30-month sentence before being released on licence.
