Oliver's mum pleads guilty (From Barry And District News)

Oliver's mum pleads guilty

A VALE mother yesterday admitted abandoning her 12-week-old baby outside a house in Newport.

The baby, who was dubbed Oliver by police officers, was found by Sarah Langley outside her house in Collingswood Crescent, on January 20.

At Newport magistrates court yesterday his mother pleaded guilty to child abandonment and three counts of theft.

The court decided that the charges were so serious that they sent the woman, who cannot be named but is from the Vale of Glamorgan, to Newport crown court for sentencing.

Mr Jamie Dewar, for the prosecution, told the court: "The father of the baby; who was estranged from the mother; did not know that Oliver had been abandoned. The woman told him and others that the baby was staying with relatives."

Defence solicitor John McCarthy said: "This is a highly unusual case and I have been unable to find any precedents in the records.

"The defendant has had some serious problems, she is of previous good character and has pleaded guilty.

"The baby was only left for about 30 minutes and was found to be well cared for.

"She chose the house to leave the baby because its lights were on and she thought that it looked like children lived there."

After a consultation, the three magistrates decided they did not have sufficient powers to sentence the woman.

Detective Sergeant Russ Tiley was a senior officer in the search for Baby Oliver's mother. He said: "This investigation used specialist resources and specialist investigating teams and unique for Gwent police, and even countrywide."