A Scottish mother has been locked up after she killed her three-month-old baby daughter by exposing her to heat from a hairdryer.
The woman was sentenced at court after being found guilty of the horrific killing of her infant girl, who was just weeks old when she died from the injuries inflicted on her.
The baby suffered fatal injuries as a result of being exposed to the intense heat from the hairdryer, in what prosecutors described as a deeply disturbing case. The child had no way to protect herself and was entirely dependent on her mother for her safety and care.
The court heard how the infant sustained serious thermal injuries that proved fatal. Medical evidence presented during the case outlined the extent of the harm caused to the tiny baby, with experts confirming the cause of death was directly linked to heat exposure.
The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons at this stage, was taken into custody following the sentencing. The judge made clear that the nature of the crime demanded a custodial sentence, given the vulnerability of the victim and the severity of what had taken place.
The case has shocked many across Scotland, with child protection campaigners pointing to the need for robust early intervention services for vulnerable families. The death of any infant is a tragedy, but cases where a parent is responsible for that death raise serious questions about what warning signs, if any, were missed.
Police Scotland launched an investigation following the death of the baby girl, and the subsequent prosecution was brought after a thorough review of all the evidence gathered by detectives and forensic specialists.
The sentencing brings to a close a deeply painful case, though for those who knew the child, no court outcome can undo the loss of a life that had barely begun.