Teenage mother who killed her baby son with paracetamol overdose is jailed for five years

A teenage mother who killed her 38-day-old son with an overdose of paracetamol has been sentenced to five years in prison today.

Ellie Jacobs, 19, gave birth to Archie Jacobs in April 2020 while living on a caravan site in Biddlesden, near Buckingham. She was 16 years old.

Archie died about five weeks later after crushed paracetamol pills were added to his bottle.

Jacobs had denied charges of murder and child abuse at the start of her trial at Luton Crown Court earlier this month. But she later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and also admitted child abuse.

Today she was sentenced to five years for manslaughter and 18 months for child abuse, to be executed simultaneously.

Will Crowther, Detective Superintendent of Bedfordshire Police, said it was a ‘very sad case’, but noted that he was glad Jacobs took responsibility for causing Archie’s death.

Jacobs had denied charges of murder and child abuse at the start of her trial at Luton Crown Court (pictured) earlier this month. But she later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and also admitted child abuse

Archie was born on April 28, 2020 and died of a paracetamol overdose on June 5 of that year – when he was just five weeks old.

“From the evening of June 4 or into the early hours of June 5, crushed adult paracetamol tablets were added to his bottle,” prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff KC told the court.

Jacobs admitted that he only added a pinch of paracetamol.

When Archie’s body was examined, it was found that he had two sets of fractures – one on his right shin and four on the big toe of his right foot. They were caused three to seven days before his death.

Jacobs’ partner, reportedly named Jay, had moved out a few days before she gave birth and Archie had been placed on a child protection plan.

Her mother Sarah Jacobs and stepfather lived on the trailer park. The mother had supported her daughter and grandson, but she was killed in a road accident on May 10, 2020.

Ms Bickerstaff KC said: ‘After her mother’s death, Ellie Jacobs received offers from family friends and from relatives, for herself and Archie to live with them, but she declined and also refused help from social services to move to a mother and baby unit and she continued to live in the caravan with Archie. ‘

She was in regular contact with a social worker, the nurse and the midwife, but as Archie was born during the first Covid lockdown, some of the contact was via video calling.

Despite the pandemic, a social worker made weekly visits. She noted that the caravan was clean but full of animals which made the place look ‘busy’ but there was no smell in the caravan.

Police found a diary in the caravan in which Jacobs had written, less than two weeks before Archie’s death, ‘I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. I don’t even know what it feels like to be okay anymore. I don’t think I’ll ever feel that again. I mean I feel like I have (sic) everything, even my house, which is crazy because I have a roof over my head, but this place just doesn’t feel like home. I don’t know where home is anymore.

“My house was always where my mother was. As long as I had my mother, I was fine.’

She continued, “I hate every second I spend on this earth without her. It doesn’t feel real, I wish this was all a nightmare and soon I will wake up with my life back with my mom by my side because I’m starting to seriously struggle with everything.

Jacobs’ mother Sarah (left) died a few days after the then 16-year-old gave birth. Jacobs (right) said, “I hate every second I spend on this earth without her. It doesn’t feel real, I wish this was all a nightmare and soon I’ll wake up with my life back with my mom by my side because I’m seriously starting to struggle with everything’

“I hate myself so much because every time I look at Archie I feel absolutely nothing, when he cries I just don’t care, and when Kelly, my neighbor, takes him over for a few hours to give me to give a break, I hope deep down that break will never end.

“I don’t know if it’s okay, but when I’m not with Archie I don’t miss him at all, I just feel a weight lift off my shoulders. I don’t know if it’s because I have a lot to do right now and am having a hard time without my mom, or if it’s because of Jay because Archie is a reminder of Jay and all the pain he put me through emotionally and physically!”

After Archie’s death, a baby bottle was examined and contained evidence suggesting that 6 crushed tablets had been added to it.

When questioned, Jacobs said she only added a “pinch” of paracetamol to the vial.

Superintendent Will Crowther of the Major Crime Unit said today: ‘This is a very sad case, where a five-week-old boy lost his life.

“I am pleased that Ellie Jacobs has finally accepted responsibility for causing Archie’s death and for the significant injuries Archie sustained in the days leading up to his death.

“I hope this guilty plea will help the rest of Archie’s family move forward after these tragic circumstances.”