Horror as plumber finds baby's body found in drain of Grimsby house

A PLUMBER found the body of a baby as he inspected a blockage in a garden drain in Grimsby.
Scartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyScartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Scartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

The discovery was made in the grounds of a house shortly before 1pm on Thursday.

Police were called to the house at around 12.50pm, and officers taped off the front and rear access to the house.

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Scenes of crime officers carried out investigations in the back garden ofthe property and inside the house, as ofiicers remained on guard.

Scartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyScartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Scartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Speaking at the scene, Det Insp Christine Calvert of Humberside Police, said the owners of the house had contacted police after the plumber made the discovery.

She said: “The owners are in extreme shock. They are helping with enquiries as much as they can.”

The age ofthe body has not been released by Humberside Police but it is understood that tests are being carried out and a post mortem will be carried out on Monday. The death is being treated as unexplained.

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Police have appealed forthe mother of - the baby to come forward and any members of the public with information to contact them on 101.

Scartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyScartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Scartho Road, Grimsby, where the body of a baby was found after the residents called out a plumber due to a blocked drain. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

As detectives carried out house-to-house enquiries last night, one neighbour said: “It is so very sad. We have been spoken to by police. It is the early stages in the police investigation, but we are sad it has happened. They said they do not know how old it is.”

The owner of the house spoke of her shock at the discovery.

The woman, aged in her 50s, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s just awful what has happened. It was a shock and it is so sad.”

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The woman, who said she has lived at the address for “many years”, confirmed the baby was found in a bag by the plumber.

Stuart Jaffrey lives just a few houses away from the scene and says that the “nasty news” is uncommon in the usually placid neighbourhood.

He said: “It’s really awful news. To hear that a baby’s body has been found is shocking. It’s the first time that I’ve ever heard of anything like that before around here. It really is a shock for this road.

“I just can’t believe it really. It’s not nice to think about because that was obviously someone’s baby.

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“I’m sure that everyone on the street will bejust as shocked.”

Fellow resident Nigel Grocott, who lives at the opposite end of the street, added: “It’s a big surprise because that’s something that you don’t expect to hear.

“There’s never any trouble down here and it is a nice neighbourhood.

“I’ve lived here for 15 years and I’ve never heard of anything like this.”

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Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘’I’m absolutely gobsmacked and have absolutely no idea what to say.

“It’s just awful, terrible news. I can’t believe that it’s happened, especially on a road like this.”

One onlooker said: ‘’It’s always a shock to see police on your doorstep, especially for something as serious as this.

“Nobody likes to hear about people dying, especially when it’s a young child. It makes me really sad to think about it.”

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Another anonymous resident added: ‘’I started getting curious when I sawthe police in the white suits, that tends to mean that it’s something serious. But I never expected it to be something like that.

“It’s the worst possible news. I have children and I couldn’t imagine losing one of my babies if that’s what has happened.”

A Humberside Police spokeswoman added: “An investigation is in its early stages as police work to establish the circumstances ofthe incident at this time.”