A judge today (Friday) described as ‘mystifying, d

A judge today (Friday) described as ‘mystifying, disturbing
and extremely dangerous’ a woman who tried 15 times in two months
to suffocate her four-week-old granddaughter.

The 41-year-old Clapton woman who cannot be named to protect
the identity of the child, was sent to Hackney Hospital for a
12-week psychiatric assessment.

It is believed she suffers from Munchausen Syndrome by
Proxy, an hysterical personality disorder which causes her to
hurt children in her care.

The grandmother, who had been given care of the child,
admitted two specimen charges of child cruelty.

The court heard the baby girl was first attacked in mid
February, 1991, four weeks after her birth.

She tried to suffocate the child 15 times in
the next two months by putting her hands over the baby’s mouth.

The child developed ‘distressing symptons’ and was
admitted to hospital in mid March, 1991, where staff discovered
the grandmother’s cruelty.

Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC made an order under the Mental
Health Act 1983 so the woman could be sent to Hackney Hospital for
a full psychiatric assessment.

He stressed she must be kept under ‘close supervision’ at the
hospital.

‘She may well be suffering from mental illness but
people such as the defendant can be extremely dangerous to
children,’ the judge said.

In making the order, the judge said: ‘Over a period
between mid February and mid March, 1991, you repeatedly
assaulted your baby granddaughter by putting your hand or hands
fully over her mouth preventing her breathing.

‘This led to distressing symptons and the child was
admitted to hospital.

‘The assaults were potentially life threatening and on
one occasion the child had to be resuscitated.

‘Anyone with a precise knowledge of the offences must be
mystified and disturbed by your behaviour.

It was a bizarre form
of child abuse.

‘Any woman who does that sort of thing to a child must
be extremely dangerous to children in her care.

‘
The judge said the public had to be protected from her.

‘You are very likely a sick woman in urgent need of
treatment and not punishment,’ he said.

She sobbed quietly in the dock, dabbing her eyes with
a tissue.

ENDS