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| Man and woman in court accused of illegally aborting baby | Man and woman in court accused of illegally aborting baby |
| (25 days later) | |
| Elliot Benham (second left under umbrella) and Sophie Harvey (second right under umbrella) face allegations relating to illegally aborting a baby | Elliot Benham (second left under umbrella) and Sophie Harvey (second right under umbrella) face allegations relating to illegally aborting a baby |
| A man and woman have appeared in court charged with illegally aborting a baby and concealing the birth of a child. | A man and woman have appeared in court charged with illegally aborting a baby and concealing the birth of a child. |
| Elliot Benham, from Wingfield, Swindon and Sophie Harvey, from St Mary's Road, Cirencester, are also charged with illegally disposing of a baby's body. | Elliot Benham, from Wingfield, Swindon and Sophie Harvey, from St Mary's Road, Cirencester, are also charged with illegally disposing of a baby's body. |
| The pair, both 23, appeared before Cheltenham magistrates and spoke only to confirm their names and addresses. | The pair, both 23, appeared before Cheltenham magistrates and spoke only to confirm their names and addresses. |
| They were released on bail and are due to appear again at Gloucester Crown Court on 3 February. | They were released on bail and are due to appear again at Gloucester Crown Court on 3 February. |
| The alleged offences date back to the last four months of 2018. | The alleged offences date back to the last four months of 2018. |
| The charges follow a major police investigation carried out in 2020 and which centred on their homes. | The charges follow a major police investigation carried out in 2020 and which centred on their homes. |
| Mr Benham and Ms Harvey were bailed by Cheltenham magistrates | Mr Benham and Ms Harvey were bailed by Cheltenham magistrates |
| Ms Harvey is charged with unlawfully administering herself a poison, or other noxious thing, with intent to procure her own miscarriage. | Ms Harvey is charged with unlawfully administering herself a poison, or other noxious thing, with intent to procure her own miscarriage. |
| It is alleged that her pregnancy was past 24 weeks and that the alleged abortion was not carried out by a registered medical practitioner as required. | It is alleged that her pregnancy was past 24 weeks and that the alleged abortion was not carried out by a registered medical practitioner as required. |
| The pair are also jointly charged with: | The pair are also jointly charged with: |
| Unlawfully procuring a poison/ noxious thing to cause a miscarriage, contrary to Section 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 | Unlawfully procuring a poison/ noxious thing to cause a miscarriage, contrary to Section 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 |
| Concealment of the birth of a child, contrary to Section 60 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 | Concealment of the birth of a child, contrary to Section 60 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 |
| Committing an act with intent to pervert the course of public justice contrary to common law, namely disposing of the body of a baby | Committing an act with intent to pervert the course of public justice contrary to common law, namely disposing of the body of a baby |
| In England, abortions are legal up to 24 weeks' gestation if carried out by a registered medical practitioner, and can be carried out after 24 weeks in very limited circumstances. | In England, abortions are legal up to 24 weeks' gestation if carried out by a registered medical practitioner, and can be carried out after 24 weeks in very limited circumstances. |
| The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 states it is a criminal offence to try to cause your own abortion. | The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 states it is a criminal offence to try to cause your own abortion. |
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