Woman jailed for abandoning baby in Bristol station toilets
A woman who abandoned an eight-month-old baby in a toilet at Bristol Temple Meads railway station has been jailed for four months.
Lisa Randall left the boy in a women's toilet at the station in November last year.
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Lisa Randall jailed for abandoning baby in Bristol station toilets
The 26-year-old then returned home to Paignton, south Devon, where she was later arrested by police.
At an earlier hearing magistrates heard that Randall admitted leaving the baby but "showed no remorse".
She claimed the boy was not in danger when she left him in a public toilet because it "was busy and warm and he was likely to be found and cared for".
After a one-day trial at Torquay Magistrates Court, Randall was convicted of unlawfully abandoning a child.
Randall, formerly of Rhondda, South Wales, said she left the baby in the toilet "because she hoped he would be looked after".
She told the court: "I did make a decision to abandon him but I would never have put him in harm's way."
10 Comments
by Steven, North Bristol
Wednesday, April 01 2009, 10:56AM
“Gaz, given the same circumstances, yes I would.”
by Tessa Boo, London W11 1NR
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 10:58PM
“I agree with many of the people who have commented on this case.
It would seem that the woman who left her baby needs help, not prison.”
by Laura, Whitchurch
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 10:41PM
“Now if this woman lost her child at Temple meads you'd all call her names and say how bad a parent she is, but because she left her child there we must all hold out a hand to help her. DUH”
by gaz, bristol
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 5:52PM
“stephen, would you still think the same if it was a bloke who willfully abandoned a helpless child?”
by Steven, North Bristol
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 3:50PM
“She comitted a crime, she showed no remorse and has been sent down. Well done the Courts.”
by Amanda, Bristol
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 3:14PM
“If this lady ever had another child, it is more than likely it would be removed from her at birth. She doesn't need locking up! Who's she going to hurt if she's out and about. What she needs is help!! This was a desperate act by an obviously desperate lady.”
by Martin, Clifton.
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 2:58PM
“I doubt that this woman poses an on-going threat to the general public, and is unlikely to repeat this crime. If she does have another child, then social services should get involved.
I would have thought that a non-custodial sentence would have been best in her case.”
by Steven, North Bristol
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 1:54PM
“Perfectly sensible decision from the Courts. this woman willfully abandoned a child and needed to face the music.
The only additional thing they should've done is not to permit this reckless woman to have any further offspring.”
by Stephen, Bristol
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 1:32PM
“I have seen many cases over the years where Devon magistrates do not know what they are doing and, sadly, this.is another one.
They are simply unable to distinguish between someone who is a genuine villain and a person who obviously needs help.”
by Stephen, Bristol
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 1:28PM
“Good to see Devon magistrates living up to their reputation fon incompetence. I have come across many examples where these people were unable to tell the difference between a genuine villain and someone who is in need of help.”