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Poison abortion bid doctor jailed | Poison abortion bid doctor jailed |
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A doctor who attempted to poison his lover in a bid to induce a miscarriage has been jailed for six years. | A doctor who attempted to poison his lover in a bid to induce a miscarriage has been jailed for six years. |
Edward Erin, 44, of west London, spiked 33-year-old Bella Prowse's drinks after she became pregnant but refused to have a termination, the Old Bailey heard. | Edward Erin, 44, of west London, spiked 33-year-old Bella Prowse's drinks after she became pregnant but refused to have a termination, the Old Bailey heard. |
Miss Prowse, a secretary at the hospital where Erin worked, noticed her coffee and juice had been tampered with, and drug traces were later found. | |
Erin was found guilty of two charges of attempting to administer poison. | |
'On the prowl' | |
Sentencing the married father-of-two, who is originally from Caerphilly in South Wales, Judge Richard Hone called Erin "a liar, a cheat and a predator". | |
He said the doctor, who worked at St Mary's Hospital, led a fantasy life and had "betrayed his profession and his family". | |
He added that Erin's wife "deserves somebody better than you who goes on the prowl". | |
Dr Lowri Erin had defended her husband during the trial and said that she was aware of his affairs. | |
Judge Hone jailed Erin for six years on each count, to be served concurrently. | |
Clare Montgomery QC, defending, said that Erin's life had been threatened while he was being held in Belmarsh prison. She said he was a man who now felt his life was over. | |
Bella Prowse thanked friends and family for their support | |
The court heard Erin began an affair with Miss Prowse at an office Christmas party in December 2007. | The court heard Erin began an affair with Miss Prowse at an office Christmas party in December 2007. |
A month later, she found she was pregnant. | A month later, she found she was pregnant. |
After Miss Prowse became suspicious and took the drinks to the police, tests showed traces of abortion-inducing drugs in both her body and a cup given to her by Erin. | |
Despite the poisoning attempt, Miss Prowse gave birth to a healthy baby, Ernie, in September 2008. | |
Following the verdict in October, hospital secretary Miss Prowse said: "Ed has done this evil, horrible thing to me but Ernie has nothing to do with him. | |
"In my mind, they're completely separate." | |
Erin was found not guilty on another charge of spiking a cup of tea as the jury could not reach a decision. | |
The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to seek a retrial on that charge. |