Cheating Wife Dumps Newborn Baby after Keeping Pregnancy Secret from her Husband

Leigh-Anne Varley, abandoned her baby after having an affair

A cheating wife dumped her newborn baby on a doorstep after keeping her entire pregnancy secret from her husband.

Leigh-Anne Varley, 36, told unsuspecting hubby Simon, 39, and their two children - aged 16 and six - she had ovarian cysts which caused 'swelling'. In reality, she was pregnant by a lover and hid his baby boy, named 'Jack', right up to the birth.

For nine months, she meticulously planned a home delivery, got scissors and towels ready, and worked out where to abandon the baby near her home in Horden, County Durham.

As she went into labour, she did some housework, put her six-year-old to bed then delivered in the
bathroom, with her teenage daughter on a night out with friends, and Simon working night-shift.

Sneaking out of the neat modern terrace at the dead of night, she returned within minutes, later booking a 'dream' trip to Disney World in Florida for her family, then going to work.

Varley cut the umbilical cord with kitchen scissors, wrapping the placenta in a carrier bag, and dumping it in a wheelie bin, Peterlee magistrates heard.

Wrapping the tiny newborn in a dressing gown, she placed him on the doorstep of a flat close to a medical centre, with a note saying:

"Please take care of my baby boy.
"Please don't go public as my husband is violent and will kill me."

She also knocked on a door in a bid to alert a nearby neighbour.

Crime scene: The new born was left on a neighbour's doorstep

The child was found cold, but otherwise unharmed between four and five hours later by a man walking his dog.

The mum-of-three admitted abandoning a child contrary to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The court heard Leigh-Anne was unable to tell her husband because she was fearful of breaking up the family unit.

Sarah Traynor, prosecuting, said:

"Just before 4.45am on May 26th a member of the public walking his dog found a baby boy wrapped in a dressing gown in the doorway of a block of flats. There was a note with the baby which said 'Please take care of my baby boy, please don't go public as my husband is violent and will kill me. 

She admitted the offence and gave a full explanation of the background to the officers. She said she had an affair and she believed the baby was the result of that affair. 

This is a very sad case, she is of previous good character and was in a desperate situation which led to the offence occurring."

Sheila Ramshaw, mitigating, said:

 "This poor lady has suffered a lot over several months, she is of impeccable character, she is someone we will never see before the courts again.

Magistrates imposed a 14-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered Varley pay £325 costs.

MirrorUK