Mum Jailed After Poisoning Toddler with Faecal Bacteria
Elizabeth Faragher, 43, from Barrow, has been locked up for nearly six years for deliberately making a young child seriously ill.
Chilling Crimes Uncovered
Faragher appeared at Preston Crown Court on April 25, 2022, where she admitted to five counts of administering poison or noxious substances with intent. She also pleaded guilty to cruelty against a child under 16. Today (July 28), she was sentenced to five years and ten months behind bars.
Suspicious Infections Spark Investigation
The nightmare began in December 2016 after repeated hospital visits for severe infections landed the child at Alder Hey hospital. Doctors noticed something bizarre — on most occasions, bacteria usually only found in faeces was present in the child’s infections.
Tests ruled out any leakage from the child’s gut, raising alarm bells that the bacteria had been deliberately injected. This horrifying revelation triggered a full police probe.
Police Praise Healthcare Heroes
Cumbria Police Detective Inspector Fae Dilks said, “This was an extremely distressing case for everyone involved, from the health professionals who did everything they could to help and protect the child to the detectives tasked with carrying out what was a complex and lengthy investigation.”
“This was an extremely rare case in which the evidence showed that an individual set out to intentionally make a child in her care seriously ill.”
“We would like to thank our healthcare partners for their assistance in ensuring the child in question’s safety.”
Thanks to dedicated medical teams and police work, justice has now been served, and the child is safe from further harm.
