'Baby snatch' teenager faces prison

Elizabeth (left) was safely reunited with her parents

A teenager who kidnapped a two-day old baby twin from a hospital maternity ward has been warned that she could be sent to jail.

Kelly Oldnall, 18, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to taking Elizabeth Rice from her mother's bedside at Wordsley Hospital, Stourbridge on 6 May.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court sentence was adjourned on Oldnall, from Pensett, Dudley, until 6 August while psychiatric and psychological tests are carried out.

But Judge Robin Onions warned her on Monday that he was considering "all options", which could include a prison term of up to 18 months.

'Parents distress'

He told Oldnall she had abducted a premature baby weighing less than 5lbs while her mother, Deanne Rice, 32, was asleep.

"One can only imagine the distress that Elizabeth's parents must have felt when they realised that their baby was taken by a complete stranger," he said.

Kelly Louise Oldnall is led away by guards

"For several hours, they must have been in a torment of agony, not knowing if they would ever see their baby again."

The court heard that Oldnall and her sister managed to walk into the hospital and onto the maternity ward unchallenged.

They removed baby Elizabeth from a cot she was sharing with twin sister Susannah at the foot of their mother's bed.

The alarm was raised when staff spotted her walking briskly and looking "agitated and embarrassed" carrying Elizabeth in a blanket.

The baby girl was found safe and well hours later after police were called to an address in the Dudley area.

'Volatile relationship'

A member of Oldnall's family had called police, concerned that the baby she had brought home did not belong to her, the court was told.

Elizabeth was returned unharmed to Mrs Rice and her husband, Richard, 30, of Oldswinford, Stourbridge, more than six hours after she was abducted.

Anthonie Muller, defending, said that Oldnall had been desperate for a child after having miscarried on more than one occasion.

He told the court the teenager was in a "volatile" relationship with 52-year-old Geoff Booth and wanted to prove that she could have children.

She had told family and friends she was pregnant, he said, and wanted to "bask momentarily" in the success of bringing a baby home.

Mr Muller said Oldnall's motivation had not been malicious and her actions deserved pity instead of condemnation.

Oldnall, who has been in custody since her arrest, was given bail on condition that reside at an undisclosed bail hostel and observe a curfew.