Cruelty mother found dead in prison

From the archive, first published Tuesday 17th Feb 2004.

A 27-year-old Plymouth mother sentenced for cruelty to her baby has died in jail, the Prison Service said.

Stephanie Horrocks, from Camperdown Street, had just begun a two-year sentence at Eastwood Park Prison in South Gloucestershire.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said she was taken to a Bristol hospital on Sunday morning, where she was later pronounced dead.

There were no indications the death was self inflicted, but no one else was being sought in connection with her death, the spokeswoman said.

A routine inquiry is under way and the coroner has been informed. A date for an inquest has yet to be set.

Horrocks and partner Mark McAndrew, 33, were jailed at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday February 12 for failing to seek medical help for nine-month-old Perrin Barlow in the 48-hour period leading up to his death on July 16, 2002.

McAndrew, who was not the child's natural father, was jailed for 15 months.

The couple both admitted child cruelty charges at an earlier hearing.

Plymouth Crown Court heard that medical tests carried out after Perrin's death showed he was suffering bronchial pneumonia, was underweight and had signs of dehydration.

Paramedics were called to the couple's home after he stopped breathing. The child - wearing only a soiled nappy - was taken to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital but staff could not revive him.

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