A woman has been jailed for 14 months for illegally inducing an abortion in the eighth month of per pregnancy, using drugs supplied by an abortion provider that are meant for use in the first ten weeks of pregnancy.

Pro-life advocates have frequently criticised the “pills by post” scheme for being open to abuse, risking the lives of women who may take the drugs over medically prescribed limits, or who may be forced to ingest them by abusive partners.

Carla Foster, 44, received the abortion-inducing drugs following a remote consultation where she concealed the extent of her unborn child’s gestation.

Based on the information she provided over the phone, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) estimated she was seven weeks pregnant. However, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the woman was between 32-34 weeks pregnant.

On 11 May 2020, having taken the drugs, an emergency call was made saying she was in labour.

The baby was born not breathing during the phonecall and was confirmed dead about 45 minutes later.

The mother has admitted to being haunted by remorse, nightmares and flashbacks to her dead child’s face.

Sentencing, judge Mr Justice Edward Pepperall said it was a “tragic” case, adding that if she had pleaded guilty earlier he may have been able to consider suspending her jail sentence.