A nine-day-old baby died from cocaine poisoning after being breastfed by her drug-taking mother. Andrew Maunder and Rochelle Thomas were staying at the Hotel Victoria in Newquay, which has since changed ownership and been renamed, after the birth of their baby girl, Darcey, while waiting to move back up north to have the support of Thomas' family.
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 found distraught
Maunder, 29, from Trelowarren Street in Camborne, and Thomas, 30, from Fiddlers Green near Newquay, were discovered screaming and distraught by Thomas' own mum in their hotel room as Darcey lay unconscious with blood on her face.
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."
Sentences handed down
The pair were arrested, and each was charged with a single count of child neglect, which they pleaded guilty to at the first opportunity. They were then sentenced 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.
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' 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. He also said: "Ms Thomas was breastfeeding Darcey, and cocaine can be ingested by a baby through breastfeeding."
Mr Ticehurst said it was not possible to say for certain that the cocaine found in Darcey's blood was the same as that found in the room, but added that Thomas' use of cocaine while breastfeeding and during her pregnancy had likely put her child's health at risk.
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."
