The mother of a newborn girl found dead in a pub toilet in Leeds has been identified and is receiving care and support, West Yorkshire police have confirmed. The baby, believed to have been stillborn, was discovered on Sunday afternoon at the Three Horse Shoes pub in Oulton.
Police initially appealed for the woman to come forward, stressing the investigation was a safeguarding inquiry and not a criminal one. On Tuesday, a police spokesperson said the mother had been identified and had received appropriate medical care and ongoing support.
Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, from West Yorkshire police’s homicide and major inquiry team, addressed the mother directly on Monday, stating: 'I’m not here to arrest you, I’m not here to arrest anyone else.' He indicated that information suggested the baby was stillborn and had been born in the toilet cubicle.
Karen Sykes, head of nursing for safeguarding at Leeds teaching hospital NHS trust, echoed the plea for the mother to seek medical help, emphasising concern for her physical and emotional wellbeing.
Paramedics were called to the pub at 4.45pm on Sunday, and the baby was pronounced dead at the scene. The pub remained closed on Tuesday but is set to reopen on Wednesday.
