Two in court charged with alleged illegal abortion
It's alleged to have happened in 2020
Last updated 5th Jan 2023
Two people have appeared in court charged with allegedly carrying out an illegal abortion.
Elliot Benham from Swindon and Sophie Harvey of St Mary's Road Cirencester, are jointly accused of procuring a poison to cause a miscarriage, concealing the birth of a child, and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of the baby's body.
Harvey has also been charged with procuring her own miscarriage by poison or use of an instrument.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between September 1 and December 1, 2018.
During a brief hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court, the defendants spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.
They did not enter pleas to the charges they face.
The case has been transferred to Gloucester Crown Court, after Sue Gethin, prosecuting, asked for the case to be transferred due to the serious nature of the offence.
They have been granted conditional bail until their next appearance in the Crown Court in February