Newborn baby boy’s body was found wrapped in plastic bag and dumped in wheelie bin, inquest hears
- Police officer found a baby’s body in Medlar-with-Wesham, Lancashire, in 2018
- Doctors concluded he had been alive when he was born before being dumped
- The inquest, which opened yesterday, was attended by the infant’s grandparent
The body of a newborn baby boy was found wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped in a wheelie bin, an inquest has heard.
The court heard how the baby was found by a police officer behind a property in Medlar-with-Wesham, Lancashire, in August 2018.
Doctors later examined the infant’s body and concluded that he had been alive when he was born after finding his airways open and oxygen in his lungs.
The inquest, which opened yesterday at Blackpool Town Hall, was attended by the infant’s grandparents.
Coroner Andrew Cousins (pictured) said: ‘The body had been wrapped in an assortment of clothes which had been wrapped in a bin bag and then placed in a wheelie bin at the rear of the property’
Coroner Andrew Cousins said: ‘The body had been wrapped in an assortment of clothes which had been wrapped in a bin bag and then placed in a wheelie bin at the rear of the property.’
A witness, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, reported hearing a baby crying in the house on the day his body was found.
Mr Cousins said: ‘I find on the balance of probability that the crying sound heard by the witness was the sound of the baby.
‘I am satisfied that when the baby was born he was alive prior to his death.
‘The cause of his death is not known at this time.’
The inquest, which opened yesterday at Blackpool Town Hall (pictured), was attended by the infant’s grandparent
He added: ‘I’m very conscious that by the nature of these circumstances these events are distressing and highly emotional.
‘I do not intend to draw this out, but I must balance this with my duty as a coroner to conduct a full, impartial investigation.’
An interim anonymity order was made preventing the identification of the baby’s mother, however, Mr Cousins said this order could be lifted at a later date.
A three-day inquest was opened for a date to be arranged. Evidence will be heard from police, medical experts and witnesses.
Lancashire police said nobody was arrested or charged in connection with the baby’s death, and no further action was taken following a consultation with CPS.