Man attempts 'to sell baby daughter' for £18,000 to clear gambling debts

The three-month-old child has now been placed in the care of Jerusalem welfare services

Scurvy can be caused by a diet deficient in vitamin C. (Getty)

An Israeli man allegedly attempted to sell his three-month-old daughter for almost £18,000 in order to pay off his gambling debts.

The man, who has not been named but is believed to be in his 30s, claims he never intended to go through with the 100,000 shekels sale, insisting the offer was a ruse to raise cash, Haaretz reported.

His 27-year-old wife, also not named, was also detained by police but authorities said the extent of her involvement in the scheme remains unclear. She has been placed under house arrest.

Jerusalem police officers caught the man after an undercover policeman – posing as a potential buyer – met with the suspect several times to allegedly arrange the sale.

The man was arrested when he seemingly handed over his daughter to the uncover officer, who later said he had attempted to encourage the sale by telling the policeman he had had another family make an offer on the child.

She has now been placed in the custody of city welfare authorities.

Her father will remain in custody for seven days, following an order by Jerusalem Magistrate Court on Thursday.