Married woman who abandoned her newborn baby to hide her affair is spared jail

Leigh-Anne Varley was so terrified of breaking up her family she abandoned her newborn son

ABANDONED BABY UK STORY

by Closer staff |
Published on

Last May, Leigh-Anne Varley gave birth to a baby boy in her bathroom before abandoning him on a stranger's doorstep - all to stop her husband finding out about her affair with another man.

Incredibly, Varley, 36, from County Durham, managed to hide the pregnancy from her husband. The healthy baby boy was discovered by a dog at 5am the next day and was named Zak by midwives who treated him at a local hospital.

Today, Varley, who had an six year old son, walked free from court after pleading guilty to child neglect.

Peterlee Magistrate's Court heard how Varley was terrified about telling her husband, after convincing herself the child wasn't his and didn't want to ruin a 'dream holiday' her husband had booked to Disneyland, in Florida.

"The fact is that this is a sad case," prosecutor Sarah Traynor told the court.

"A member of the public reported finding a baby boy wrapped in blankets at a block of flats with a note saying: 'Please take care of my baby boy and please don't go public as my husband is violent and he'll kill me'.'

The court heard how Varley had researched giving birth at home in an emergency and anger putting her six year old son to bed, she went to the bathroom to prepare to give birth. It was also claimed that varley had planned to leave the baby at a walk in health centre but didn't want to leave her older child at home alone, so took him to the nearby block of flats.

Mrs Traynor added: "Her husband and daughter returned home and they booked their flights to Florida.

"The next morning at around 6.25am she was glad to see that an ambulance had arrived where she had left the baby."

However, she later handed herself in and then pleaded guilty to assault, ill treatment or neglect of a young person at a hearing on 27 August.

Sheila Ramshaw, defending, said Varley had been suffering from mental health problems.

"What we know is that this lady has clearly suffered a lot in these last several months," she told the court. "And withstanding all of that she is before you today. She feels this situation has been overbearing for her.

"She is a lady of good character. The pressure of this has led to some mental health issues but Miss Varley is now receiving some care. This lady has an impeccable character. This lady has a family unit and she cares very much for them. To separate them would certainly not do anyone any good."

Varley was handed a suspended sentence order for 14 weeks.

The woman who found baby Zac, Janice Clish, told the Mail she wants an apology from Varley.

Janice said: "I'm shocked that she hasn't gone to prison, I think she should have. But you never know what mental health she has.

"When the police arrived I didn't want to give the baby up, I bonded with him.She should say sorry to me for leaving him on my doorstep."

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