Inquest hears of pair's baby death

A Shropshire teenager who panicked after his girlfriend gave birth secretly in the bath at his parents' home threw the dead baby's body in a river in a black bin liner, an inquest has heard.

South Shropshire coroner Anthony Sibcy was told Adam Boddey, 18, was scared to tell his mum after his girlfriend Claire Morris, 19, gave birth in secret at his parents' home in Dahn Drive, Ludlow. The family has since moved to Brimfield.

The inquest heard the young couple panicked and hid the baby's body in Mr Boddey's bedroom while they decided what to do.

The body of baby Kiera Boddey was found by police search teams in the River Teme at the Linney in Ludlow last November 5, the inquest in Ludlow heard yesterday.

The body of baby Kiera Boddey was found by police search teams in the River Teme at the Linney in Ludlow last November 5, the inquest in Ludlow heard yesterday.

After giving birth Miss Morris, of Newcastle-on-Clun, was admitted to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on November 3 with life-threatening complications.

Miss Morris told hospital staff she had had a medical termination that summer, but when she passed a full-term placenta they realised there was a missing baby.

Midwife Janet Linihan told the inquest Miss Morris said the baby was either born dead or compromised, meaning it would have needed resuscitation.

But pathologist Dr James Lucas, who carried out a post mortem on baby Kiera, said the cause of death was unascertained. He said there were no underlying congenital abnormalities, and Kiera's lungs had been aerated, meaning at some point she took a breath.

He added there was evidence of infection associated with pneumonia and possible septicaemia. It was possible an infection had developed in the womb, he said.

Marc Hughes, a friend of Mr Boddey, said he received a text from him on November 3 asking for help.

He told the inquest: "He (Mr Boddey) started crying and struggled to talk to me.

"He said Claire was in the bath and he saw a dead baby in the bath. He said we had to hide the baby, and then he said it was in the back of the car and that was what freaked me out.

"I told him to go to the hospital straight away. I said they were going to help him, not get him into trouble. It was the best option. But he did not listen."

In police interviews Mr Boddey admitted he "did not know how to handle it". He told police: "I was scared of the truth. I was scared of mum telling me off."

The inquest continues tomorrow.

By Sophie Bignall