Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Unlawfully Providing Abortion Drugs
Stuart Worby, a 40-year-old man from Dereham, Norfolk, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for unlawfully providing abortion drugs to a pregnant woman without her knowledge, leading to the loss of her unborn baby. The incident occurred in 2022 when Worby crushed a tablet into orange juice that the woman consumed. He then proceeded to give her additional tablets of another abortion drug after deceiving her into engaging in sexual activity while blindfolded. The victim, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time, later miscarried.
Victim’s Heartbreaking Testimony
During the court proceedings at Norwich Crown Court, the victim, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity as a sexual offense survivor, expressed the profound emotional impact of the incident. In a victim impact statement read by the prosecutor, she shared her feelings of failure and loss, stating, “This pain will never leave me knowing that this baby could have been my only chance to be a mother in this lifetime.” The woman revealed that she has struggled with infertility since the miscarriage, visiting various fertility clinics in hopes of conceiving again. She described motherhood as a lifelong dream that now remains unfulfilled.
Prosecutor’s Condemnation of Worby’s Actions
Edmund Vickers KC, the prosecutor in the case, characterized Worby’s actions as deliberate, well-planned, and callous. He highlighted how Worby enlisted the help of Nueza Cepeda, his friend’s partner, to obtain the abortion drugs by paying for an appointment at a gynaecology centre in London. The prescription for the drugs, along with painkillers, was issued during the appointment in the summer of 2022.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mr. Justice Joel Bennathan criticized Worby for his selfish behavior, emphasizing that he had acted without the woman’s knowledge or consent. The judge imposed a restraining order preventing Worby from contacting the victim and ordered him to pay her £10,000 in compensation. Cepeda, who was involved in supplying the abortion drugs, received a suspended 22-month prison sentence after pleading guilty. Her lawyer, Andrew Oliver, emphasized her lack of prior criminal record and the remorse she felt for her role in the incident, attributing her actions to misguided loyalty to Worby.
This tragic case serves as a harrowing reminder of the devastating consequences of reproductive coercion and the importance of respecting individuals’ autonomy and choices in matters as deeply personal as pregnancy and parenthood.
