Hospital order for mother who killed her baby

Jade Ruck, 23, admitted killing 11-month-old Harley Ruck on November 20 last year but denied a charge of murder.

Her plea of guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service, a Swansea Crown Court official said.

Police were called to a flat in St David’s Road, Abergavenny, south Wales, at 5.30am last November.

Harley was discovered inside but, despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead soon after.

Mr Justice Lloyd Jones yesterday said Ruck should be detained at the Caswell Clinic in Bridgend after issuing a hospital order that was “unlimited in time”, the official said.

In a statement released after Harley’s death, her family said losing her was an “horrific tragedy” and described her as “our beautiful, happy, loving little daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter, niece and cousin who was loved dearly and will be sadly missed by all around her, especially by her lost heartbroken mum.”

After the sentencing, a statement from Gwent Police said: “We accept the findings of the court today. The death of Harley Ruck was a tragedy that affected the whole community.

“Following the decision of the court Harley’s mother will now get the treatment she needs.”