Stuart Worby, a 40-year-old man, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for orchestrating the forced miscarriage of his pregnant partner’s 15-week-old baby. The court heard how Worby, driven by selfish motives, secretly administered abortion-inducing drugs to his partner without her knowledge or consent. He crushed mifepristone, the first drug in a medical abortion regimen, into her orange juice and later deceptively inserted misoprostol tablets, the second drug, into her body. His actions were described by the judge as those of a “selfish man” who deliberately set about terminating the pregnancy without the woman’s awareness. The woman, who wished to continue the pregnancy, experienced a severe physical reaction to the drugs, yet Worby delayed seeking medical attention for her for three hours. She ultimately miscarried at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital the following day. Worby’s conviction followed a trial at Norwich Crown Court in October where he was found guilty of assault by penetration and administering poison or using an instrument with intent to procure a miscarriage.
The court proceedings revealed a calculated plan hatched by Worby and his friend, Wayne Finney, to terminate the pregnancy against the woman’s will. Text messages exchanged between the two men, discovered by the victim on Worby’s phone, exposed their scheme. One message chillingly stated, “It’s working, she’s bleeding,” confirming the woman’s suspicions that her miscarriage was not spontaneous but a deliberate act. This discovery unveiled the deceitful nature of the termination and the extent of Worby’s manipulation. The victim expressed in her impact statement the profound sense of failure she felt in not being able to protect her unborn child, highlighting the devastating emotional toll of Worby’s actions.
Worby’s scheme involved enlisting the help of Finney’s girlfriend, Nueza Cepeda, 39. He paid Cepeda £470 to obtain the abortion drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, from a gynaecology centre in London. Cepeda falsely claimed to be pregnant and wanting an abortion to secure the medication. Despite being explicitly warned by the clinic staff that providing the drugs to another person was a criminal offence, Cepeda proceeded to meet Worby at the George Hotel in Dereham and hand over the tablets. This transaction provided Worby with the means to carry out his plan and violated the clinic’s trust, highlighting Cepeda’s complicity in the crime.
Following the miscarriage and the discovery of the incriminating text messages, Worby was arrested. Police searches of his residence yielded further evidence, including an empty packet of misoprostol and two mobile phones. Forensic analysis of nail clippings taken from Worby revealed traces of both mifepristone and misoprostol, corroborating his direct involvement in administering the drugs. A post-mortem examination of the miscarried fetus also found traces of mifepristone, further solidifying the link between Worby’s actions and the termination of the pregnancy. This comprehensive forensic evidence played a crucial role in securing Worby’s conviction.
Cepeda pleaded guilty to supplying an instrument to procure a miscarriage and received a suspended sentence of 22 months imprisonment. Her admission of guilt acknowledged her role in facilitating Worby’s crime, although her sentence was less severe than his. The judge’s sentencing of Worby reflects the gravity of his actions, recognizing the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon the victim and the deliberate termination of a pregnancy against the mother’s wishes. The case underscores the devastating consequences of reproductive coercion and the importance of upholding a woman’s autonomy over her reproductive health.
The case highlights the serious legal and ethical implications of using abortion medication without the informed consent of the pregnant person. Worby’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the woman’s bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, resulting in a tragic loss and significant emotional distress. The sentence handed down by the court underscores the severity of such offenses and serves as a deterrent against similar acts of reproductive coercion. The case also highlights the vulnerability of pregnant women to manipulative partners and the need for greater awareness and protection against such abuse.
