A YOUNG woman who abandoned her dead newborn baby in a friend’s garden on her way to work had hidden her pregnancy from family and friends, a court heard.

Fatima Ali was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to concealing the birth of a child and child cruelty by failing to seek medical attention for the baby girl, named Aliyah by police.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 26-year-old Ali, of Alfred Street, Bury, had hidden the pregnancy from her family, who disapproved of her relationship with the baby’s father, Kazi Hussein.

She gave birth in secret in her bedroom, going out with her aunt and uncle to a relative’s house shortly afterwards and going to work as usual the next day.

“The defendant returned immediately to her life and sought to keep her secret forever,” said Andrew Nuttall, prosecuting.

The court heard how Ali was brought up by her aunt Razia Ashraf from the age of seven.

Educated to degree standard, she worked as a cash office manager at B & M Bargains in Bury and lived at home with her family.

But in 2007 she began, what her family considered was an unsuitable relationship with Kazi Hussein and became pregnant in 2008, travelling to Birmingham to have an abortion paid for by Mr Hussein.

In 2010 Ali became pregnant again and, despite making appointments to have another abortion, did not go through with it, hiding her condition from family and work colleagues.

Mr Nuttall told how, on September 5, Ali was at home and stayed in her room whilst her family was at prayer.

Unknown to them she gave birth to a live baby girl, even sending a photograph of the infant and text messages to her boyfriend, who was in Bangladesh.

A post mortem examination carried out on the baby after the body was found revealed she was normally formed.

Consultant neonatologist Mr Simon Mitchell concluded that she lived for less than two hours, although no cause for her death has been established.

“He states that the sudden unexplained collapse in the early period after birth in a well infant, born full term as this child was, is rare,” said Mr Nuttall.

That evening, Ali visited a relative’s house but returned home early and the next day headed off for work as usual, leaving the now dead baby, still unwashed after the birth and wrapped in a shawl, in the front garden of a friend’s house in Tinline Street, Bury.

A police investigation began, but it was not until September 28 that Ali was arrested, traced via DNA from the baby matching that of Mr Hussein.

Ali was taken to Fairfield Hospital for an examination, where she was questioned by medical staff.

“She gave details about the birth, but at no stage asked after the child or referred to her at all,” said Mr Nuttall.

“She made no mention of what had happened to the child other than to say that after the birth she, the mother, had passed out, or why she had died.

“She said she felt it was a relief it was out. She stated that she had never sought any help at all for the birth and she had gone back to work to take her mind off recent events.”

Lisa Roberts, defending, described Ali as a “law-abiding, modest and dutiful young woman” who had made some bad and wrong decisions.

She said Ali suffers from depression and anxiety and may have had the impression that she was not wanted as she had been given to her aunt by her mother when she was a child.

“She sought solace in the unsuitable arms of Mr Hussein,” she said.

“She realises now how foolish she was.”

She added that, since her arrest, Ali had been snubbed in the street and her family had been ostracized by their community.

She stressed that there was no suggestion that Ali had harmed the baby, only that she did not seek medical assistance for her.

Sentencing Ali, Judge John Appleby described her secrecy and failure to seek help as “an immense disaster for this child”.

He added: “She died within two hours of her birth and, had you acted appropriately, her life could have been saved.

“There is no evidence you ill-treated the child and it is still a mystery, perhaps, as to the course of action you took after her birth.

“It is evident that you have suffered from psychological distress and trauma for a number of years.

“This tragedy and the result of your actions will be with you for the rest of your life.”

After the case, police divisional commander of Bury, Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, said, “This is a tragic case which has touched everyone involved.

“It was thorough and painstaking investigation, which was undertaken with great sensitivity. It impacted on the local Asian community in East Bury and I want to thank them for their support.

“There is no doubt that Fatima could not speak openly about her pregnancy with her family and friends. Ultimately she gave birth on her own without the necessary medical or mutual support.”

He advised: “If you are pregnant and you feel anxious it is very tempting to think you are on your own, but there are lots of people who can provide help and advice.

“Speak to your local GP, they can put you in contact with health visitors, midwives and other health professionals who can provide support and talk though your specific concerns and needs.”