Mother jailed after her baby girl was exposed to heroin and died

A mother whose newborn daughter girl died after being exposed to heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed.

Rachel Bourne, 34, was addicted to class A drugs when paramedics rushed to the family home in Blurton, Staffordshire, to find a young baby in cardiac arrest.

Ten-week-old Phoebe tragically died at the Royal Stoke University Hospital on October 29, 2019.

Last week, Bourne was handed a jail sentence of 31 months after admitting child cruetly offences.

Prosecutor Chloe Ashley told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: 'Soon after the death it was identified she had ingested heroin and cocaine. 

'She may have been exposed to smoke from crack cocaine or heroin or may have come into contact with surfaces with drug powder or come into contact with someone who had used or handled drugs.

'Also found in her hair was the presence of cannabis. That probably arose from a sweat transfer from a cannabis user.'

The court heard how Bourne had a £120-a-week drug habit and was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine.

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Phoebe's dad - 39-year-old John Douglas, who also now lives in Yorkshire - will be sentenced on Wednesday after admitting the same offence, with the couple having got together in 2016. 

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Bourne had been remanded in custody since November last year.

He added: 'She has spent a year free of drugs and free of addiction.'

'She experimented with heroin and crack cocaine and an addiction took hold. 

'Although she did not drink or use drugs in the presence of her child she was ignorant of the risk of passive inhalation, surface contamination, and cross-contamination. 

'She accepts her addiction to drugs rendered her incapable of putting her child's best interests first. She is now free of drugs and she must live with the consequences.

'Following the death of Phoebe her life descended into absolute chaos. Her first conviction was in 2021. At the time of these convictions she had no previous convictions at all. She has to live with her regret indefinitely.'

Jailing Bourne, Judge Graeme Smith said: 'The case is about two tragedies - the death of Phoebe at 10 weeks old and the second tragedy is what happened to your life and what led to the exposure of her to heroin and cocaine. 

'Drugs ruin lives. It ruined your life. 

'You have prioritised drug use over care for yourself, your family, and your employment. There is no suggestion you gave drugs to the child but she was exposed through smoke or surface contamination.'