A mother has been warned she faces a lengthy prison sentence for dumping her newborn daughter’s body.

Hannah Cobley, 29, gave birth in secret following a one night stand with a stranger.

She then wrapped the newborn baby in plastic bags and left her in bushes next to a shed near her parents’ farmhouse in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire.

Examinations on the girl’s body found that an object had been forced down her throat after she was born prematurely at 32 weeks.

She also had skull fractures, bruising, cuts and bruises and a brain injury.

Cobley said that she thought the baby was stillborn, but she had done Google searches including ‘how long a baby can survive without being fed?’ and ‘what happens when a newborn baby is dropped?’

It took a jury less than two hours to find her guilty yesterday at Leicester Crown Court and she will be sentenced later today.

Suspicions were raised when Cobley fell ill and doctors realised that she had been pregnant.

She denied any knowledge of her pregnancy so they contacted police who searched her parent’s home and found the baby’s body.

She later told a relative that she had given birth in an outdoor toilet but said the baby did not move so she wrapped her in a plastic bag.

She said she had not done anything to check if the baby was alive and denied doing anything which could have caused harm to the baby.

However, experts believe the girl was alive and may have lived for two hours or more after her birth.

Prosecutors claimed the mum had inflicted the injuries and left the baby to die without seeking medical help.

Detective Inspector Jon Blockley said: ‘This is an extremely sad and tragic case which has resulted in the death of a newborn baby girl, born at 32-weeks.

‘Hannah Cobley had previously denied being responsible for her baby’s death but, following this investigation, has today been found guilty of murder.

‘Cobley could have sought help from her own family or professionals but instead took actions into her own hands.

‘This decision meant a newborn baby girl was denied her life.

‘My thoughts remain with all those affected and I want to thank everyone who assisted in this investigation providing information as well as to all the police officers and staff who worked tirelessly on such a devastating case.’

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