Net hunt for teenage mum of baby found at recycling site

10:50am Friday 5th September 2008

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A TEENAGE girl is thought to be the mother of a baby whose body was found at a recycling plant and detectives are using the internet to try to find her.

The body of the newborn baby girl had been concealed in waste collected from one of 7,000 homes in Worcester.

It is thought the body, discovered at a large site in Cambridgeshire on Wednesday, August 27, was put into a green recycling bin somewhere in the city and passed through a sorting plant in Bromsgrove. Police do not know how or when the baby died.

Officers have now placed information on social networking websites Facebook, Bebo and Myspace appealing for young people to help.

Detective Inspector Adrian Todd, who is leading the enquiry, said: “A number of factors are pointing us towards the birth perhaps being concealed by a teenage girl whose family and friends, and maybe even the father, could be totally oblivious to her plight.

“While we are still keeping an open mind about where this baby came from – and why it was necessary to put her body into the city’s waste system – we want to get as many young people as possible thinking about whether they know someone who could be this mother-in-distress.”

He believed the girl may have put on weight or behaved out-of-the-ordinary. She may have stopped going to work, college or school, but concealed any changes from those close to her.

“Anyone with the slightest suspicion should not dismiss any thoughts as being not important,” said Mr Todd.

“No indication can be too small in an investigation like this, which could end in the mother being so isolated and afraid that she may never come forward voluntarily.”

Meanwhile, Elaine Newell, head of midwifery for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, has renewed her personal appeal for the mother to come forward.

She said: “I am very concerned about your well-being and my immediate priority is to ensure that you receive any necessary midwifery and medical care.

“I appreciate you must be feeling very confused, upset and afraid. Please be assured that I want to make sure you are safe and well.

“If you would like to speak to me directly you can contact me personally on 07775 800300 and I will talk to you and arrange for you to receive any necessary care.”

West Mercia police are also appealing for information. They can be contacted on 08457 444888, quoting 289S/280808 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.