Student nurse ‘scouted out’ infants at a neonatal unit, courtroom hears
A student nurse ‘scouted out’ babies at a neonatal unit before trying to snatch a premature child while on placement, a court heard yesterday.
Safia Ihmadei plotted to kidnap the newborn after taking a ‘particular interest’ in the baby and quizzing the infant’s mother on their ‘racial heritage’, jurors were told.
The 36-year-old is alleged to have repeatedly walked into the ward at New Cross Hospital, in Wolverhampton, despite being told to leave and even returned after being suspended.
When police were called and searched her, they found she was carrying baby clothes and a comforter, the court heard.
More baby clothes still with shop tags on, a passport and £1,500 cash were found in her car, it was alleged.
Seamran Sidhu, prosecuting, said there was no reason for Ihmadei to have any baby clothes, adding: ‘The items further support the assertion [she] had an intention to take the baby.’
The 36-year-old is alleged to have repeatedly walked into the ward at New Cross Hospital, in Wolverhampton, despite being told to leave and even returned after being suspended
Ms Sidhu said: ‘You will hear in this trial about how she bought items ready for when she had the baby… how she attended the unit on a number of occasions, initially to scout out and find a baby to take and then when she had done that, she returned to find a way to get that baby out of the ward.
‘But for the actions and intervention of the nurses and the parents of the baby, she would have succeeded in taking that baby.’
The court was told that Ihmadei, a first-year student at Wolverhampton University, was on placement at the hospital but not in the midwifery department so had no reason at all to be there.
She was seen on a number of occasions visiting the ward and looking at babies and acting suspiciously on February 13, before focusing on one child in particular, Ms Sidhu said.
The prosecutor added: ‘She asked the mother a number of questions about her baby… about whether the baby was Muslim and of Pakistani heritage.
‘She also asked [her] about the baby’s feeding and sleep- ing arrangements.’
About five hours later, Ihmadei is alleged to have returned to the ward and was found next to the baby’s cot, the court was told.
Safia Ihmadei plotted to kidnap the newborn after taking a ‘particular interest’ in the baby and quizzing the infant’s mother on their ‘racial heritage’, jurors were told. Pictured: Wolverhampton Crown Court
Ihmadei told a nurse who challenged her that she had been bringing blankets for the infant but she was asked to leave the ward, the court heard. She returned 15 minutes later and was again asked to leave, only to come back just minutes later accompanied by a man.
Ms Sidhu said: ‘[He] was her partner and she just wanted to look at the baby. They were both told to leave.’
Ihmadei was suspended and told she should not go to her hospital placement, but that did not stop her, she added.
Ihmadei returned to the hospital two hours later, wearing a red coat on top of her uniform in an alleged attempt to ‘go under the radar’, Ms Sidhu said.
The baby’s mother spotted her and began to confront her before nurses intervened and police were called, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Officers searched Ihmadei and discovered baby clothes and other items which could help her flee with the child if needed, Ms Sidhu said. More clothing with shop tags on, a baby changing bag, soft toys and baby bedding were found at her home, the court heard.
Ihmadei, from Wolverhampton, denies attempting to kidnap a child between February 12 and 14.
The trial continues.
