Mum accused of getting pregnant to avoid prison

Judge lambasts woman for not using contraception

- CARL JACKSON Court Correspondent

A JUDGE accused a mother of falling pregnant to avoid prison in an extraordinary blast over contraception.

Tanya Parker helped smuggle steroids, mobile phones and tobacco into HMP Birmingham in 2019 as part of her crook husband David Bradley's plan while he was in jail himself.

The couple, who are from Coventry and have four children, came to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court last Thursday (June 26) having previously been warned they faced terms of immediate custody.

But the hearing took a twist as barrister Cathlyn Orchard, defending 36-year-old Parker, confirmed she was between six to seven weeks pregnant.

Visibly astonished Judge Dean Kershaw replied: “Are you seriously telling me that? Knowing the position these two are in, she’s pregnant again?”

He continued: “She understands there’s something called contraception, having a child knowing the position both of them are in.”

Ms Orchard, who had stated the pregnancy was ‘unplanned’ replied saying that contraception ‘doesn’t always work’ prompting the judge to question as to whether Parker had used any.

The barrister said: “I haven’t gone into that detail. She is not wanting to be pregnant and she is conflicted in saying that because she is going to keep the child. It couldn't have come at a worse time.”