Baby dies of horrific accidents after mum loses mood and tries in charge one other baby
Nicole Blain, 30, was convicted of murdering 19-day-old Thea June Wilson at her flat in Greenock, Inverclyde – the infant was violently shaken and repeatedly struck against a hard surface
Thea died of her injuries(Image: UGC)
A mother who falsely accused another child of injuring her newborn daughter has been found guilty of murder. Nicole Blain, 30, lost control of her temper while caring for 19-day-old Thea June Wilson at her flat in Greenock, Inverclyde on July 14, 2023.
Thea sustained severe injuries, including three skull fractures, brain damage, and bleeding behind the eyes, consistent with being violently shaken and repeatedly struck against a hard surface.
In a desperate attempt to cover up her actions, Blain claimed she had awoken from a nap to find her daughter injured on the floor and went on to accuse another child in the flat of being responsible for Thea’s condition. Prosecutors dismissed her claims as “nonsense”.
A pathologist also concluded that it was highly unlikely Thea’s fatal injuries could have been caused by being dropped by the other child. Following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Blain was found guilty.
Lord Scott informed her: “I will be passing a life sentence. I require more information about you before determining the length of the punishment part (minimum time Blain will spend in jail). In the meantime, you will be remanded in custody.”
Blain, who had been on bail, broke down in tears as she was led away in handcuffs to the cells. She is set to return to court next month. During the trial, Thea was described as “perfect” when she was born on June 25, 2023. However, following the birth, Blain confessed to “struggling” with post-natal depression. Thea’s paternal grandmother, Laura Wilson – whose son Ross, 32, had been romantically involved with Blain before her pregnancy – provided testimony.
The 59 year old recounted the last time she saw the baby was on July 8, 2023, describing Thea as “fantastic” and expressing no concerns about her well-being.
On the day of the tragic incident, there were plans for Blain to bring the child to Mrs Wilson’s residence in Ayrshire. However, around 2pm that afternoon, Mrs Wilson’s husband Alan received a call from Blain on her mobile.
Mr Wilson, 59, shared with the jury: “I could hear screaming. I had never heard anything like it. It was piercing and extremely loud. I thought it was an older child doing it, but then I realised it was the baby who was screaming.
“She (Blain) did mumble ‘I do not know what to do’. She did not sound right. I said ‘hang up and phone an ambulance’.”
Mrs Wilson also had a conversation with the mother turned killer. The witness remembered: “She said she had found Thea on the floor with no clothes on and had a bump on her head.”
In response, Mrs Wilson hurried to the hospital in Glasgow to be by her cherished granddaughter’s side. She questioned Blain about the events at the flat.
Mrs Wilson recalled: “She said that it was (another child also staying with her) who had done it.” Blain further claimed she had woken up to find Thea out of her crib and on the floor.
Tragically, Thea did not survive – it was determined that the infant had suffered “significant non-accidental head trauma”. Alongside the skull fractures, Thea also had rib injuries consistent with her chest being compressed.
The baby’s neck was also injured, potentially from a “forceful” back and forth movement of her head.
Pathologist Leighanne Deboys informed the jury that a combination of Thea being shaken and impact with a hard surface could explain these horrific injuries – another medical professional likened them to those sustained by a car crash victim.
Blain also deceived social worker Stacey Jones, who met with the mother in the hospital shortly after the incident. Miss Jones, 35, testified at the trial: “She was extremely distressed. The only thing I can recall her saying was ‘I do not know how I will forgive (another child) for this’ or words to that effect.”
During her trial, Blain took the stand and broke down as she insisted her daughter’s death was “a tragic accident”. She claimed to have taken a nap that day with Thea asleep in her crib. Blain said she was roused by a neighbour at the door – and alleged not to have initially noticed the now seemingly naked baby on the floor.
The convicted woman stated she did not definitively know what happened to Thea, but that she would “never in a million years” have harmed her. She also denied “throwing (the other child) under the bus” by suggesting she had been responsible.
Blain emotionally told the jury: “I can remember the trauma of finding my daughter. I will never get it out of my head. My baby died in my arms.” Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC dismissed any notion that another child could have inflicted the injuries as “just nonsense”. He suggested Blain had harmed the baby before realising she was in a “lot of trouble”.
However, Blain refuted this, stating: “In my eyes, (the other child) did not kill Thea. What happened to Thea was a tragic accident. The only thing to blame was me being asleep and that is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life.”
Blain, who was found guilty, had previously appeared in a “gender reveal” video on TikTok during her pregnancy. She is seen holding a knife while a female friend holds a black balloon ready to be popped in what seems to be a living room.
After a short pause, an irritated-looking Blain finally bursts the balloon, releasing pink confetti into the air to announce she is expecting a girl. Blain then storms off, giving the middle finger to one of the people filming the event on their mobile phone.
Despite this, in court, Blain insisted she loved Thea, a sentiment she also expressed in text messages to the baby’s grandmother, Laura Wilson. In separate footage from June last year, Blain was filmed being chased out of her then home in Renfrewshire by an angry crowd that had gathered outside the property.
This occurred merely weeks after the complete allegations of her harming her daughter came to light. Police were required to secure the house as two women, one thought to be Blain, were guided into a van by three officers.
Sentencing for Blain, who had a minor previous assault conviction, was postponed pending reports.
