The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has dropped charges against 22-year-old accounts adviser Bethany Cox, who was accused of illegally terminating her pregnancy during the first Covid lockdown in July 2020. Miss Cox had denied using the abortion pill Misoprostol to end her pregnancy and was set to face trial next week.
During proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, the CPS officially offered no evidence against Miss Cox, leading to a not-guilty verdict. The CPS cited “evidential difficulties” as the reason for not pursuing the prosecution.
Miss Cox’s barrister strongly criticized the prosecution, highlighting the emotional toll the case had taken on her. He pointed out that Miss Cox had consistently provided the same account in her defence statement and to police officers immediately after the incident. He described the situation as “beyond regrettable” and emphasized that Miss Cox had suffered significantly while grieving the loss of her baby.
Nicholas Lumley KC, representing Miss Cox, stated, “The prosecution now accepts what she said to the police must have been right. That is beyond regrettable.”
A psychiatric examination confirmed that the legal proceedings had profoundly affected Miss Cox.
Judge Paul Watson, KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, directed not guilty verdicts to be entered in the case, acquitting Miss Cox and clearing her name.
Rachael Clarke, chief of staff at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, welcomed the withdrawal of charges and expressed relief that the case would not proceed to trial, considering it an unnecessary and emotionally taxing ordeal.
It is important to note that the evidential issues in this case are specific to Miss Cox’s situation and do not affect wider prosecutions related to abortion cases.
In August 2018, the UK government legalized the home-use of early medical abortion pills, including Misoprostol, in England, allowing women to take the second of two early abortion pills at home. This change aimed to provide greater flexibility and convenience for women seeking early abortion services.
