Mother found after newborn baby discovered dead in pub toilet

A baby’s body was found in a bathroom cubicle at the Three Horseshoes in Oulton, near Leeds, just before 5pm on Sunday

The mother of a newborn baby girl found dead in a pub toilet has been identified, police said.

Officers had been searching for the woman after a baby was found in a bathroom cubicle at the Three Horseshoes in Oulton, near Leeds, just before 5pm on Sunday.

On Tuesday, West Yorkshire Police revealed they had identified a woman believed to be the mother and said she was now receiving the “appropriate medical care” and is being given support.

At a press conference in Leeds city centre on Monday, Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, from West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major inquiry team, said the information he had pointed to the baby being stillborn and having been born in the toilet cubicle.

He said the evidence so far suggested the baby’s death was “a stillbirth, and a stillbirth that may have taken place within that bathroom cubicle”.

Addressing the mother directly, he added: “From a police perspective I just want to be really clear. I’m not here to arrest you, I’m not here to arrest anyone else.

“I’m here to make sure I understand what’s happened and make sure that you get the medical attention that you need.”

Paramedics were called to the pub at about 4.45pm but the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a post on Facebook the owners of the pub made reference to the incident on Sunday afternoon.

The post said: “I’ve been writing post after post for the past hour but I don’t think right now is the best time given the circumstances.....We’re sure there’s speculation of something that happened at our establishment this evening.

“All I can say at the minute is I’m sorry to everyone that was in with us during the time this happened and to all that was due to come in and couldn’t.

“A massive thank you to those that helped us whilst we were struggling as a team it really doesn’t go unappreciated. Lots of love Team Three Horse Shoes.”

The pub said it would remain closed on Tuesday, but would reopen on Wednesday.

It comes just days after a baby was found abandoned in a shopping bag in a park in east London.

Baby Elsa was found by a dog walker last Thursday at a park in East Ham and was rushed to hospital for medical attention.

She has since been discharged from hospital and is in the care of foster parents. Elsa’s parents have still not been identified.