UK — A mother has been convicted of murdering her newborn son after she hid him in the loft of her home and fed him a fatal mixture of drugs.

Kayleigh-Anne Harrison, 32, from Rochdale, was found guilty of murder and child cruelty at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

The Case:

• Harrison gave birth to her sixth child, Oakley, in secret in July 2023.
• She concealed the baby in the loft of her house instead of seeking medical care.
• Prosecutors said she administered a “lethal cocktail” of prescription drugs to the infant, including tramadol and diazepam.
• The tiny baby was discovered days later by emergency services. He was just 12 days old when he died.

Harrison already had five older children, all of whom had previously been taken into care by authorities.

The court heard distressing evidence about the lengths she went to hide the pregnancy and birth. Oakley’s death was ruled a homicide caused by the toxic levels of drugs in his system.

The Daily Mail and other outlets reported that the jury took just a few hours to reach their verdict. Harrison will be sentenced at a later date.

The tragic case has drawn widespread condemnation, with many expressing heartbreak for little Oakley. The inset photo in the widely shared image shows the newborn wearing a grey knitted hat with his name on it.

RIP Oakley. 💔

This is another devastating example of vulnerable children falling through the cracks despite prior involvement from social services.