This is Somerset -- A mother who buried her stillborn son under a Christmas tree in the grounds of an historic property has walked free from court. Angela Owen, from Glastonbury, wrapped the body in a binliner before putting it in the makeshift grave 12 years ago. The 47-year-old kept the crime secret for more than a decade but handed herself in to police last year when a BBC Crimewatch appeal was launched. She has was given a 12-month community order at Bradford Crown Court after she admitted preventing the lawful burial of the child. Owen was living with her then boyfriend Paul Beaumont in the servant quarters of the 370-year-old Howroyd Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire, when she gave birth prematurely while more than seven months pregnant. The remains were discovered in the grounds of the mansion, once owned by Emmerdale actor Richard Thorpe, when it was being renovated in 2006. Owen gave birth to her stillborn child on her way to the toilet the night after being attacked by Mr Beaumont, the judge was told. She claimed he had kicked her "repeatedly" in the stomach. After the offence, she used at least 27 different names and aliases in an attempt to evade justice. Owen, a bakery worker, admitted concealing the birth of the boy and preventing his lawful burial, as well as six unconnected offences of fraud between 2001 to 2004. Sentencing Owen, Judge Robert Bartfield said: "The known facts are you gave birth to the child somewhere beyond seven months into your pregnancy. It having been born in the house, you buried the child in the garden of the premises you were living. "The circumstances of which this event took place can never to a finite degree ever be established." Detective Inspector Steve Snow, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "This is the culmination of a painstaking and detailed investigation over seven years for a woman who used at least 27 different names and aliases to attempt to evade justice." He added: "From the outset Owen admitted concealing the birth of her child and failing to notify the coroner of the birth. These are serious offences and also meant she was unable to seek medical attention at what must have been a very difficult time." Kirstie Watson, mitigating, said Owen discovered she was pregnant in early 2001 but concealed the pregnancy. "She maintains she was assaulted by Beaumont quite viciously on the night before she went into labour in and gave birth to a stillborn child," she added. "She was not thinking straight. The body was buried in the garden because she wanted it to be near her." As well as completing her supervised community order, Owen must pay £400 towards prosecution costs. After the hearing, she said: "I would like to thank my family and friends for support."
Reported by This is 5 days ago.
This is Somerset -- A mother who buried her stillborn son under a Christmas tree in the grounds of an historic property has walked free from court. Angela Owen, from Glastonbury, wrapped the body in a binliner before putting it in the makeshift grave 12 years ago. The 47-year-old kept the crime secret for more than a decade but handed herself in to police last year when a BBC Crimewatch appeal was launched. She has was given a 12-month community order at Bradford Crown Court after she admitted preventing the lawful burial of the child. Owen was living with her then boyfriend Paul Beaumont in the servant quarters of the 370-year-old Howroyd Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire, when she gave birth prematurely while more than seven months pregnant. The remains were discovered in the grounds of the mansion, once owned by Emmerdale actor Richard Thorpe, when it was being renovated in 2006. Owen gave birth to her stillborn child on her way to the toilet the night after being attacked by Mr Beaumont, the judge was told. She claimed he had kicked her "repeatedly" in the stomach. After the offence, she used at least 27 different names and aliases in an attempt to evade justice. Owen, a bakery worker, admitted concealing the birth of the boy and preventing his lawful burial, as well as six unconnected offences of fraud between 2001 to 2004. Sentencing Owen, Judge Robert Bartfield said: "The known facts are you gave birth to the child somewhere beyond seven months into your pregnancy. It having been born in the house, you buried the child in the garden of the premises you were living. "The circumstances of which this event took place can never to a finite degree ever be established." Detective Inspector Steve Snow, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "This is the culmination of a painstaking and detailed investigation over seven years for a woman who used at least 27 different names and aliases to attempt to evade justice." He added: "From the outset Owen admitted concealing the birth of her child and failing to notify the coroner of the birth. These are serious offences and also meant she was unable to seek medical attention at what must have been a very difficult time." Kirstie Watson, mitigating, said Owen discovered she was pregnant in early 2001 but concealed the pregnancy. "She maintains she was assaulted by Beaumont quite viciously on the night before she went into labour in and gave birth to a stillborn child," she added. "She was not thinking straight. The body was buried in the garden because she wanted it to be near her." As well as completing her supervised community order, Owen must pay £400 towards prosecution costs. After the hearing, she said: "I would like to thank my family and friends for support."
Reported by This is 5 days ago.