Baby girl died in hotel from cocaine in mum's breast milk - parents spared jail

Baby girl died in hotel from cocaine in mum's breast milk - parents spared jail Andrew Maunder and Rochelle Thomas 'entirely failed' their nine-day-old baby Darcey, exposing her to the class-A drug even before she was born, a judge said A nine-day-old baby died after ingesting cocaine through breastfeeding - with her parents receiving suspended prison sentences. Andrew Maunder, 29, and Rochelle Thomas, 30, were staying at Hotel Victoria in Newquay after having their baby girl Darcey. The new family were waiting to move "up north" to receive support from Thomas' family but on November 11, 2023, Darcey was found dead. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Thomas' mum had found the couple screaming and distraught in their hotel room as Darcey laid unconscious with blood on her face. The pair pleaded guilty to a single count of child neglect at the first opportunity. Truro Crown Court heard today how Maunder, of Trelowarren Street in Camborne, would sometimes have several lines of cocaine a night. Meanwhile, Thomas, of Fiddlers Green near Newquay, also had cocaine before, during and after she was pregnant with her daughter. Toxicology analysis of the couple's hair and blood showed long-term cocaine use, Cornwall Live reports. Joss Ticehurst, prosecuting, said Thomas' and Maunder's use of the class A drug was such they had "put their baby daughter's health at risk". He said cocaine could have been ingested by the newborn baby as it was on her parents' clothes, fingers, hands and was on a cup on the bedside table. But analysis of the baby's blood showed she had cocaine in her system, Mr Ticehurst told the court. He said: "Ms Thomas was breastfeeding Darcey and cocaine can be ingested by a baby through breastfeeding." Cocaine in a very young child can lead to fever, loss of consciousness, heart issues and death. Mr Ticehurst said it was not possible to say for certain that the cocaine found in Darcey's blood was the same found in the room but added that Thomas' use of cocaine while breastfeeding and during her pregnancy had likely put her child's health at risk. He said that at first Maunder had denied taking the drug and denied Thomas had taken cocaine too. Thomas, however, said Maunder could have several lines of cocaine a night and admitted using the drug a couple of days after giving birth. Thomas has no previous convictions while Maunder has previous convictions for possession of cannabis and assaulting a police officer. Defending Maunder, Victoria Bastock said this was a very difficult case for all involved and a "tragic set of circumstances". "It is a tragedy keenly felt by both defendants," she told the court. "The loss of Mr Maunder's daughter is something he will never be able to overcome and be reconciled with," she added. Ms Bastock said Maunder and Thomas had been seeking help at the time of the incident and had been mere days away from moving back up north to be with Thomas' family and the support they would have provided. His Honour Judge Simon Carr said such a young child should never have been brought anywhere near cocaine. He said: "Darcey was entitled to rely on you for her protection. You entirely failed her. You allowed your addiction to take precedence over your baby. Not just on the day but in the months of your pregnancy." Judge Carr noted how Maunder and Thomas had been visibly distraught by the loss of their baby. He said the most likely explanation for Darcey's cocaine ingestion was through breastfeeding. He noted Thomas' post traumatic stress disorder and depression, how she had used cocaine as a coping mechanism for her own traumatic childhood and how "matters have moved on in a positive way" since Darcey's death. Judge Carr also noted Maunder's remorse and poor mental health as a result of his baby's death. Sparing the couple jail, the judge said: "Nothing I say or do can bring Darcey back or alleviate the pain. Nothing will be achieved three years after the incident by sending you to prison." Instead, Judge Carr sentenced Maunder and Thomas to two and a half years in prison suspended for three years. They will both be required to undertake some rehabilitation work with probation services for 12 months while Thomas will also have to do a drug rehabilitation requirement programme for six months.