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A woman with serious mental health problems who abducted a baby from a hospital has finally been sentenced – nearly two years later.
Alicia Stewart, now 25, snatched the baby from his mother’s side at the entrance to Hull Royal Infirmary on December 27, 2017.
Stewart, originally charged under the name Alicia Steward, had been talking to herself and twice asked the mother “Is that my baby?” before snatching the boy and briefly struggling with his mother, who was not strong enough to resist her.
The infant was in a baby carrier but was not strapped in.
Stewart lifted the baby above her head and ran, but an off-duty prison officer heard the mother’s cries for help and quickly stopped Stewart.
The baby was returned to the care of his mother and was not harmed.
Stewart, of no fixed address, admitted child abduction shortly after the offence.
Steven Garth, who has represented Stewart throughout her many hearings at Hull Crown Court, said: “This, the defence accept, was a wicked act. But it was committed by a young woman who was very poorly with her mental health.
“But she is very regretful for what she did and she apologises.”
‘She was delusional’
Stewart, who was accompanied by two nurses in the dock on Friday, was delusional at the time of the incident and has since being diagnosed with a form of schizophrenia.
Mr Garth said she was now “almost content” in the mental health unit in York where she is being treated, and there was hope her condition would continue to improve.
WATCH who was jailed last month
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After hearing evidence from psychiatrist Dr Vinod Iyer, Recorder David Gordon made a Section 37 order under the Mental Health Act 1983 for Stewart to be detained.
He also made a Section 47 order to protect the public, which means she can only be released with the approval of the Secretary of State.
The judge told Stewart: “My wish for you is you continue to improve and feel well and feel secure in an environment where there are many good people trying their absolute utmost to help you.”
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