Three Horseshoes, Oulton: Mother of baby found dead in Yorkshire pub toilet told by police 'I’m not here to arrest you'

By Katie Dickinson and Dave Higgens, PA
Published 29th Jan 2024, 14:54 BST
A senior police officer has told the mother of a newborn baby girl found dead in a pub toilet: “I’m not here to arrest you.”

Officers have made a direct appeal to the mother of the baby, which was found in a bathroom cubicle at the Three Horseshoes in Oulton, near Leeds, just before 5pm on Sunday.

At a press conference in Leeds city centre, Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, from West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major inquiry team, said the information he has points to the baby being stillborn and having been born in the toilet cubicle.

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Addressing the mother directly, he said: “From a police perspective I just want to be really clear. I’m not here to arrest you, I’m not here to arrest anyone else.”

Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, right, who is leading the investigation, held a press conference outside Leeds General Infirmary following the incident in Oulton. Pictures: NationalWorldDetective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, right, who is leading the investigation, held a press conference outside Leeds General Infirmary following the incident in Oulton. Pictures: NationalWorld
Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, right, who is leading the investigation, held a press conference outside Leeds General Infirmary following the incident in Oulton. Pictures: NationalWorld

Mr Entwistle said the evidence so far suggested the baby’s death was “a stillbirth, and a stillbirth that may have taken place within that bathroom cubicle”.

He said: “Please, get in touch with us, get in touch with our NHS colleagues and please make sure that we can get you the care you need.

“All I want to achieve is making sure that this doesn’t happen again to you or to anyone else. I’m here to make sure I understand what’s happened and make sure that you get the medical attention that you need.”

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Paramedics were called to the pub at about 4.45pm but the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

West Yorkshire Police have said an investigation is ongoing and stressed their “priority is to ensure the mother’s welfare”.

Earlier, Mr Entwistle said: “This is a tragic incident and we are urgently appealing for the mother of the baby girl to contact us or seek medical help as she has been through an extremely traumatic ordeal and could well need treatment herself.

“If the mother is comfortable speaking to the police, then she can do so by calling 101 or she can use LiveChat online to talk to us remotely at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat. “If she doesn’t want to speak to the police, she can contact the Leeds Maternity assessment unit on 0113 3926731.

“Our inquiries into the incident remain ongoing today with NHS partners but our main priority remains the mother’s welfare and safety.”