Lucy Letby told jurors that hurting babies is ‘completely against being what a nurse is’ as she began giving evidence in her defence.

She is accused of murdering seven and trying to kill 10 others while working on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

Wearing black trousers and a black top, Letby, 33, was flanked by two female prison officers in the witness box at Manchester Crown Court.

Several rows behind, her parents, John, 76, and Susan, 62, looked on – as did family members of the alleged victims on the other side of the public gallery.

She started her evidence by confirming some personal details with her barrister, Ben MyersKC – her name and date of birth.

Letby said she grew up in Hereford with her mother and father.

Asked when it was she first wanted to be a nurse, she replied: ‘I have always wanted to work with children.’

She told the court she chose A-levels to take ‘which would best support that career’.

Letby said she studied her nursing degree at the University of Chester and was the ‘first person in her family to go to university’.

During her studies she went on numerous work placements, she said, with the majority at the Countess of Chester Hospital, either on the children’s ward or the neo-natal unit.

Letby said she qualified as a Band 5 nurse in September 2011.

Mr Myers asked: ‘Over the period of 2015 and 2016 we are looking at the and the babies on this indictment, could you put a figure on the number of babies you cared for in that period?’

Letby said: ‘It would be hundreds.’

Mr Myers said: ‘Did you care for them?’

Letby said: ‘Yes.’

Asked if she ever wanted to hurt any of them, she said: ‘No, that’s completely against being what a nurse is.’

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