Hidden babies mother spared jail

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A young woman who hid the bodies of her two stillborn babies has been spared jail after a judge said she deserved sympathy and not punishment.

Kerry Ardis, 21, of Poole Park Road in Plymouth hid the body of her first daughter, Poppy, in a shoebox in a wardrobe in August 2005.

Her son Louis was hidden behind her father's garden shed in June this year.

At Plymouth Crown Court, Judge Francis Gilbert QC sentenced Ardis to nine months, suspended for two years.

Post-mortem examinations showed both babies had been born dead.

I do not hold you responsible for the death of either baby Judge Francis Gilbert

The first case was reported to police three years ago, but they chose not to prosecute until the second case came to light in the summer.

Ardis had admitted covering up the births and preventing the proper burials of the babies.

Judge Gilbert ordered her to receive supervision for two years.

"I make it clear I do not hold you responsible for the death of either baby and I sentence you only for the offences with which you are charged of concealing the births and preventing the burials," he told her.

"On this basis, this case is a tragedy for you and your family for which you deserve sympathy and understanding rather than outright punishment.

"On each occasion you were relatively young and went through the ordeal of having to give birth to a stillborn baby without any support from anyone because you were frightened of telling your family you were pregnant.

"It is also relevant that each of the babies' remains have now received a decent burial."

Father 'bewildered'

The judge said a consultant psychiatrist, Dr Andrew Montgomery, had concluded Ardis did not suffer from any specific disorder, but had been severely distressed at the time as a result of what happened.

"You are now anxious and depressed, partly as a result of bereavement for your second child, partly because of this court case, and partly from the public reaction and publicity you have received."

Tracy Baker, defending, said: "It was inevitable the concealment would come to light and both children have since had proper burials.

"The first child was buried in early 2006 and the second was buried two weeks ago with the full involvement of the father."

Michael Sage, the father of Louis, said the case had left him stunned and bewildered.

Police said Poppy's father was still unable to talk openly about the case.

Ardis left court without comment.