Woman who faked abortion jailed for three years

After a week-long trial at Perth Sheriff Court, a jury found the woman and her friend guilty of carrying out fraud against the father, who believed her pregnancy had been terminated after the couple separated.

Sheriff William Wood said the pair had orchestrated “an elaborate and cynical scheme”.

The father - who told The Herald “I truly believed my child was dead” - became suspicious when he was told the woman had given birth to a child who resembled him and contacted police.

The woman claimed that she had gone through with the abortion and fallen pregnant again with the child of her friend, who said he was gay. However, DNA tests proved that it was not his child.

The friend has also been jailed for three years for his part in the fraud. He had claimed the baby girl he was raising had been given to him by a fictional surrogate mother called “Clare Green”.

The court heard that a fake Facebook account had even been set up in the name of the surrogate, who was supposedly a lawyer.

It led Sheriff Wood to tell the woman and her friend: “Neither of you have accepted responsibility for your conduct. You have little insight into your actions and the consequences for others.

“The maintenance of your innocence does neither of you any credit.”

The biological father has now taken custody of his three-year old daughter.

As proceedings closed, Sheriff Wood praised him, saying: “It is to your credit that you have campaigned so long and hard for your daughter.

“I can’t fail to be impressed by the vigour and stamina that has been required of you to get matters this far.

“It is a highly unusual case.”