Newborn found dead in pub in Leeds as police urge mother to come forward

29 January 2024, 09:42 | Updated: 29 January 2024, 14:27

A newborn has been found dead in a pub toilet in Leeds as police urge its mother to come forward.

Officers were called to the Three Horseshoes pub in Oulton at around 4.45pm on Sunday afternoon following the discovery of a newborn baby girl.

Emergency services attended but she was confirmed dead at the scene.

Police are now appealing for the mother to come forward, with their main priority being her welfare.

An investigation is ongoing into the incident.

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DCI James Entwistle of West Yorkshire Police, said: “This is a tragic incident and we are urgently appealing for the mother of the baby girl to contact us or seek medical help as she has been through an extremely traumatic ordeal and could well need treatment herself.

“If the mother is comfortable speaking to the police then she can do so by calling 101 or she can use LiveChat online to talk to us remotely at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat

“If she doesn’t want to speak to the police, she can contact the Leeds Maternity Assessment Unit on 0113 3926731.

“Our enquiries into the incident remain ongoing today with NHS partners but our main priority remains the mother’s welfare and safety.”

He said there is evidence to suggest it was a stillbirth, emphasising that the main concern was safeguarding.

Addressing the mother directly during a press conference, he said: "From a police perspective I just want to be really clear.

"I'm not here to arrest you, I'm not here to arrest anyone else.

"I'm here to make sure I understand what's happened and make sure that you get the medical attention that you need."

Karen Sykes, head of safeguarding at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, told the press conference in Leeds after the discovery of the dead newborn: "To the mother of this baby girl - we are really concerned about your medical, physical and emotional wellbeing at this point in time and urgently ask you to seek some medical help and advice.

"You can either go to your GP, but if you don't feel comfortable going to your GP, come to one of our ED departments."

Ms Sykes said the mother could also call 111 or go to one of the trust's maternity assessment centres.