A BARROW woman who administered needless and harmful medication to a child has been ordered to serve a longer prison sentence following a hearing at the Court of Appeal.

Elizabeth Faragher, 43, lied about symptoms the child was experiencing to medical practitioners. 

The child received a large amount of unnecessary and intrusive medical investigation and treatment, including prescribed injections. 

Faragher also deliberately injected the child on five separate occasions with hypodermic needles contaminated with faeces.

On 28 July 2022, Faragher was sentenced to five years and 10 months imprisonment for one count of child cruelty and five counts of administering a noxious substance. The sentencing took place at Preston Crown Court.

Her sentence was then referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme for being too low.

On 21 October 2022, the Court found Faragher’s original sentence to be unduly lenient and imposed a new sentence of 8 years imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said: "This was a deeply upsetting case of child cruelty, and it was clear to me that Elizabeth Faragher’s shocking actions warranted a stronger prison sentence.

"Today’s verdict shows that all forms of cruelty to children will be met with the strongest possible punishment." 

In mitigation during the original sentencing, her defence argued that Faragher was an alcoholic and had been suffering from the loss of her husband.

Health professionals hospital raised concerns with the police in December 2016 regarding the health of the young child. 

Doctors were concerned about the seriousness of the infections and their investigations showed that on the majority of the occasions the child was brought to hospital, they found bacteria normally present in faeces. 

Following an investigation by the police, she was due to stand trial at Preston Crown Court in April but pled guilty to the offences.

Detective Inspector Fae Dilks of Cumbria Police said: “This was an extremely distressing case for all involved – from the health professionals who sought to do everything in their power to help and safeguard the child to those detectives tasked with conducting what was a complex and lengthy investigation.

“This was an extremely rare case where the evidence showed an individual had set out to deliberately make a child under her care seriously ill.

“We would like to thank our partner agencies in healthcare for their support and in helping ensure the child in question is safeguarded.

"In relation to the court ruling today, Cumbria Police are satisfied that the appeal raised by the Attorney General has been duly considered by the Court of Appeal, and is reflected in the increase of sentence for this abhorrent crime."