Innocent Mum Of Tragic Toddler Speaks Out To Clear Her Name After False Murder Accusation
08/07/2011
A mother, who was falsely accused of murdering her own son after he died in his sleep just two days after being sent home from hospital, has today spoken of her horrific ordeal and her battle to clear her name.
Abby Podmore, the 21-year-old mother of Alfie, says that following her arrest just hours after her toddler son’s death in February this year, she returned home to find that her house had been turned into a crime scene, with a white police tent erected at the front of the property.
The devastated mother has since been unable to return to her home as some members of the community wrongly believed that she had played a part in Alfie’s death, despite a doctor later confirming that he had died of natural causes and all accusations of wrong doing being dropped.
Abby has now approached legal experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her treatment at the hands of West Midlands Police, who have since apologised to her for their handling of the situation. She is also seeking answers in relation to her son’s death, in the hope that further tragedies can be prevented.
Three-year-old Alfie became unwell whilst at nursery and was sent home on February 2 2011. The following day, he was taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital A&E department with a high temperature, a pain in his left shoulder and a rash. He was diagnosed with a gastric illness and prescribed with anti-acid medication.
But two days later Abby, a trainee dental nurse, woke to find that he wasn’t breathing. She tried to resuscitate him but it was too late and when paramedics arrived, he was pronounced dead.
Within only a few hours of Alfie’s death, a devastated Abby was arrested by police on suspicion of murder and remained in custody overnight. It was only after confirmation from a doctor acting on behalf of HM Coroner for Birmingham, who informed the police that Alfie had died of natural causes, that the allegations were dropped.
A post-mortem later revealed that he had suffered from pneumonia, a bacterial infection and septicaemia.
Abby Podmore said: “I was still struggling to cope with the news that my little boy had passed away when police officers came to tell me I was being taken into custody on suspicion of my son’s murder. I wasn’t even allowed to see his body for 10 days after he died.”
Guy Forster, a medical law expert from the Birmingham office of Irwin Mitchell, who is representing the family, said: “For Abby the past six months have been unbearable; firstly suffering the unimaginable pain of losing her only child and then being wrongly blamed for his death.
“Although the family accepts that the police have a duty to investigate all such deaths the appalling manner in which they were treated appears heavy-handed. Abby is now determined to clear her name and make sure that lessons are learnt from her horrific ordeal so that other grieving mums are not exposed to such treatment in the future.
“Chief Superintendent Phil Kay of West Midlands Police has since visited Abby and her family to apologise for the way they were treated. However, having been unable to grieve for Alfie in the normal way they feel this apology is too little too late and that nothing will turn back the clock for them.”
Guy said: “Abby and her partner, who was also arrested, are still suffering as a result of the heavy-handed actions of the police and feel that they have lost their good name and reputation, with some members of the local community wrongly being led to believe they had some part in Alfie’s death.
“The Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has now confirmed that it is conducting a serious incident investigation into the treatment provided to Alfie before he was discharged.
“A full inquest is now listed to take place on 29 September 2011 at Birmingham Coroners Court, when the family hope they will receive some answers to the many questions they have regarding Alfie’s death.”
Abby Podmore added: “I love my little boy and did the very best I could for him. When he became ill my mother took him to hospital and when I got to the hospital we were later told he had a simple gastric illness and to take him home.
“The police later told us that things should have been done differently, they apologised and said that police protocols were not correctly followed but my whole life has been turned upside down because of what happened.
“I haven’t even been able to return home or grieve properly and I wouldn’t want anyone else to suffer as I have. I hope that speaking out will ensure valuable lessons are learnt.”
Abby has now made a formal complaint to the police and this is being investigated by the Professional Standards Dept.
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