Mother Found Guilty of Exposing Baby to Harm by Cocaine Ingestion
A mother has been found guilty of exposing her 10-week-old daughter to cocaine, leading to the tragic death of the infant. Shareen Mains, 36, of Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, was convicted after a jury at Greenock Sheriff Court determined that she had caused the baby to ingest cocaine, which ultimately led to her death.
The incident took place on September 8, 2019, when Mains discovered her daughter unresponsive and not breathing after a night of feeding. Despite attempts at resuscitation, the baby was later pronounced dead. Forensic tests revealed traces of cocaine in the baby’s body, and four baby bottles in the home were found to contain cocaine.
During the trial, prosecutor Kirstin Brierley presented evidence that Mains had been in possession of cocaine, cannabis, and phenazepam at the time. In the aftermath of the baby’s death, a police investigation found multiple drug-related items in the house, including a “bong” and traces of cocaine in the baby bottles.
Defense lawyer Alistair Sloan argued that the Crown had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the cocaine found in the baby’s system was ingested while under Mains’s care, but the jury ultimately rejected this defense. Mains was convicted on multiple charges, including possessing cocaine, cannabis, and phenazepam, as well as exposing her baby to harm by allowing the ingestion of cocaine.
Mains will be sentenced next month for these offenses, which have been described as tragic and difficult.
