Baby's mother asks for forgiveness

The mother's letter says: "I am not a bad person"

A mother who abandoned her baby son has written him a letter explaining she wanted him to have a better life than she could offer.

Four letters were sent anonymously to the couple who found the new-born on the doorstep of their Cambridgeshire home.

In a letter addressed to her son, named Patrick Brian by nurses, the mother said she loved him and hoped he would eventually understand why she had abandoned him.

I am not going to come forward because I know how much trouble I am in and how much people hate me now

Patrick Brian's mother

Other letters were addressed to Lance and Beryl Ayres, the retired couple who discovered Patrick on their doorstep as well as Brian Brooker, the paramedic who responded to the 999 call.

The fourth letter was headed "to whom it may concern."

Police said they had no reason to believe the letters, sent to Mr and Mrs Ayres at their home in Swarthy, Cambridgeshire, over the weekend, were not authentic.

And they released the full text of the letter to Mr Broker.

It said: "I am OK just a bit tired and need to be on my own.

"I am not going to come forward because I know how much trouble I am in and how much people hate me now.

"Please tell Mr and Mrs Ayres not to hate me.

" I am not a bad person.

"I had Patrick on Saturday night and hid him until my parents were asleep.

"I cannot tell anyone because no one understands. Please forgive me."

The baby, who was found eight days ago, is now in the care of Cambridgeshire County Council's Social Services.

The mother said in another letter that she had returned to Mr and Mrs Ayres' home after abandoning the baby but went away again because there were so many people around.

Police appeal

Pc Nicola Hood, one of the officers in charge of the investigation, has made a personal plea for the mother to come forward.

"No one hates you and none of us know your circumstances," she said.

"It is obvious from your letters that you care about Patrick and no one is judging you for what happened."

She said the mother was likely to be young and living nearby.

Pc Hood said the letter writer had thanked Mr and Mrs Ayres for taking care of Patrick.

But she added that police would not be releasing the full details of the mother's letter to her son.

In a direct plea to the mother, Pc Hood said: "You have already been brave in going through what you have and in writing the letters."

And she reassured her that help was available.

"You can ring me personally. I am waiting for your call," she said.