Joanne Sharkey killed tiny boy who came to be known as Baby Callum.
A council worker who suffocated her new born baby before keeping his death a secret for more than 25 years is due to be sentenced today. The body of the infant, who came to be known as Baby Callum, was discovered in woodland close to Gulliver’s World in Warrington on March 14 1998.
Joanne Sharkey, of Denham Close in Croxteth, was subsequently charged with murdering the newborn, who was seemingly minutes old when he was suffocated, and concealing the birth of a child in April 2024. But the 55-year-old admitted manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, as well as concealing the birth of a child, on the day she was due to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
These pleas were deemed acceptable by the Crown Prosecution Service, with the count of murder not being pursued further by the prosecution after it was deemed that the post-natal depression she had been suffering following the birth of her first child “substantially impaired her ability to form rational judgement and exercise self control”. She will return to the same court to be sentenced this morning, Friday.
Sharkey had been due to be sentenced two weeks ago, although the case was ultimately adjourned due to a lack of court time. This postponed hearing is now scheduled to take place from 10:30am today, with the ECHO providing live updates from courtroom 61.
High Court judge Mrs Justice Eady, has now been passed a suspended sentence. The judge previously told her: “This is a case where I need to reflect on what I have heard. It is more important if I make sure that I make the right decision rather than trying to rush things.”
11:08AM
Joanne Sharkey receives sentence of two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years
The judge says: “It is open for me to suspend that sentence. You present no risk or danger to the public. On the other hand, your immediate imprisonment would not result in significant harm on others albeit you have sig mitigation and there’s realistic prospect of rehab
“The real question is whether appropriate punishment can only be achieved in custody. I’m satisfied that this very sad case calls for compassion.”
Sharkey is seen shaking and in tears as she is told she will receive a suspended prison sentence and dabs her eyes with a tissue.
She will also be given a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement.
The judge asks Sharkey: “Can I ask you please to try to stand?”
She does so slowly, shaking and again dabs her eyes with a tissue.
The sentence is one of two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
11:06AM
Judge awards Sharkey full credit
Justice Eady says: “From that term you are to be afforded credit for your plea. Your counsel has pointed out you could not be properly advised until the expert evidence was available. There was a real issue whether the child had been alive. The question arose as to whether there was evidence to support a partial defence of diminished responsibility which could only be advanced on psychiatric evidence.
“It was necessary for you to receive advice and have sight of expert evidence. The timing of your plea was not the result of a tactical decision but a consequence of a reasonable need for the clarification of the legal and mental position.
“I have reached the conclusion that in the highly unusual circumstances it would have been unreasonable to expect you to indicate your guilty pleas earlier.”
The judge awards Sharkey full credit and her sentence is reduced to two years.
11:02AM
‘Custodial term is the appropriate disposal’
The judge says: “There are many similarities in this case to one where the charge is one of infanticide, which tends to attract a non custodial sentence.
“I cannot avoid the conclusion that a custodial term is the appropriate disposal. I return to the particular tragedy of this case and the fact you have lived with the knowledge of what you did for 25 years. You have thought about this, quote a million times but couldn’t actually say the words.
“This can be seen as consistent with your personality disorder traits. I’m clear this is not a case where you had a sense of having gotten away with it, rather you lived isolated with this terrible and tragic knowledge for a quarter of a century.
“You have these proceedings hanging over you. In the exceptional circumstances of this case, I consider the appropriate term to be one of three years.”
11:01AM
‘Your offending is very largely explained by the mental disorder you suffered’
Justice Eady continues: “The prosecution invites me to consider whether the sentence should be aggravated by count two. The max penalty for concealing the birth of a child is two years imprisonment. This is a serious offence which recognises the respect to be afforded to the birth of any child.
“Given your mental state at the time I’m satisfied your offending was not planned or pre-meditated. I place you culpability at the lower level. If taken alone I would take the appropriate sentence to be one of six months imprisonment. The two offences are interrelated. Any sentence on count two would be appropriately served concurrently to count one.
“Taking into account the needs of punishment and protection of the public I need to consider what in the circumstances is the appropriate sentence. The guideline expressly cautions that cases will vary considerably. That may require a departure from the guidelines.
“The seriousness of the offending the loss of the life of a vulnerable new born child makes plain this is a case that crosses the custody threshold. The prosecution submits the interests of society, specifically the need to protect the sanctity of human life, ought to prevail. I’ve carefully considered your offending behaviour as a whole.
“Nothing I can do or say can turn the clock back, still less restore the life of your child. I ask myself whether it is unavoidable whether a sentence of imprisonment can be imposed. This is a difficult case. Your offending is very largely explained by the mental disorder you suffered.”
10:58AM
‘Not a day has not passed when you have not dwelt on these matters,” judge tells Sharkey
The judge says: “As for mitigation, the depressive episodes explain the abnormality of mental functioning. It is relevant that you were not only of entirely good character before but you have continued to be so. I accept you are genuinely remorseful. Not a day has not passed when you have not dwelt on these matters.
“In my judgement your unguarded covertly recorded exchange with your husband and your interviews make clear how you have carried the weight of this guilt all these years.
“I’m of the view your offending falls towards the lower end of the category range.”
10:58AM
‘Plainly a new born child is particularly vulnerable’ and aggravates the sentencing starting point
Justice Eady: “Where retained responsibility has been assessed as low, the guideline provides a starting point of seven years with a range of three to 12 years. I’ve considered whether there are aggravating factors. Plainly a new born child is particularly vulnerable.
“The injuries you caused can also be seen as aggravating features, as was the apparent attempt to conceal the body. Your actions are substantially explained by your abnormality of mental functioning. Suspicion fell on others. Young women in the area were arrested as suspects.”
10:53AM
Judge satisfied Sharkey’s depression ‘substantially impaired’ her ability to understand her actions
The judge says: “Manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility involves the loss of a life. The harm will always be of the utmost harm. Your legal responsibility is diminished, not extinguished.
“You were an educated woman, able to hold down a job with family support. You suffered from post natal depression which substantially weakened your ability to exercise self control. The prosecution has pointed to elements of your conduct that could such elements of control and competence. I’ve reflected carefully on this point and think there’s a need to distinguish between a need to react and elements of control.
“I find the combination of your depression and the trauma of the birth substantially impaired your ability to understand the nature and consequences of your actions.
“On all the information and evidence available I’m satisfied your retained responsibility is properly to be assessed as low.”
10:49AM
Sharkey first admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility on March 5 this year
The judge says: “On July 28 2023 you were both arrested. A covert recording was made of your conversation in the back of the police car. Three points stand out. You were clear this was entirely on you. You were not going to try to deny what you’d done. You had carried this with you the whole time, thinking about it every day.
“You spoke of your relief that this had finally come out, that you had been haunted by what you had done.
“On April 15 2024 you were charged with the murder of your child and endeavouring to conceal the birth of your child. In your defence statement there was no acceptance of the infant being born alive, you causing his death and relying on your mental health. It was further stated you were unable to recall your behaviour in any detail. As Ms Grahame has observed, two legal issues arose. One, whether the infant had been born alive. Two, your mental state at the relevant time.
“I’m told it was during the afternoon of March 5 2025 that you first indicated your baby had been born alive and were willing to plead guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and endeavouring to conceal the birth.”
10:47AM
Sharkey saw a doctor for panic attacks in July 2002
Justice Eady says: “There was a lot of publicity about the discovery of the body. You tried to avoid watching the news but suffered severe nightmares. You continued to say nothing to your husband. You often thought about walking away, leaving your home and family.
“In the months and years that followed, you developed feelings of anxiety and panic. You eventually saw your doctor about your panic attacks in July 2002. You always felt able to pretend to others that things were normal.
“Your husband obtained hired paid work. Later on you went with him as he went to work abroad.”
Sharkey was subsequently identified following a DNA review which found her and her husband were a match.
10:44Am
‘There is no evidence of premeditation and nothing can explain your actions other than this abnormality in mental functioning’
The judge continues: “Your pregnancy was not detected by others around you. Your relationship with your husband was under strain and he didn’t realise you were pregnant.
“Your mental health was such that you effectively denied the fact of your pregnancy even to yourself. I’m satisfied you have little recollection of this time. You’ve blanked it out. That is also true of the subsequent labour and giving birth.
“Your account has been characterised with problems of recollection. You’ve been unable to recall the date or time.
“You’ve also said how as a result of your frequent revisiting of the incident you’ve felt increasingly uncertain of your memories. The psychiatrist Dr Plunkett has described your account as an experience of derealisation.
“You said you did not look at the baby. You can only recall a groaning or gurgling noise. You told the police you think you put your hand down to the baby’s hand or mouth. You were unable to recall whether that was an accurate recollection.
“You must have put tissue into the baby’s mouth or throat. You have no recollection of this. You cannot recall fetching the bags in which his body was found. You have a memory of placing the bag in the footwell of the car but not any awareness of when this was and whether the baby was alive or dead. You had no memory of where you went. Quote, you could have been in Scotland.
“It’s never been possible for the medical cause of death to be obtained. I cannot be sure of the precise means by which this child died. Bruising and injuries do not enable me to be sure you caused injuries to your baby after he had been born, most likely by covering his airways or placing tissue into his mouth.
“There is no evidence of premeditation and nothing can explain your actions other than this abnormality in mental functioning.
“Dr Kennedy has observed there is evidence you did possess functioning skills and consequential thinking. You cleaned the bathroom. You transported the body in two bags. The trauma of the birth would be expected to result in a further decline in your mental health.
“Driving away from your home you had no sense of where you were. You’ve never been able to describe your actions. There is no reason why you would now lie about this. I find your mental disorder continued in the aftermath of the birth.”
10:38AM
Sharkey visibly shaking in the dock as judge says ‘this was not the baby blues but a far more sustained period of depression’
The judge says: “To understand the tragic nature of these events, it’s necessary to go back to the period when you were 28 living with your husband and son, then a toddler. You returned to full time work after maternity leave and seemed to be coping, but that was a facade. You were suffering from post natal depression. This was not the baby blues but a far more sustained period of depression.
“You sought to conceal what was happening to you. Your ability to seek help was informed by what might be characterised as personality disorder traits. I’m satisfied this background coupled with the depression and irrational fears you suffered explains why you told no one what you were suffering.
“You were able to brush off concerns, distancing yourself from your husband and closing yourself off from your friend. In this context, about a year after your son’s birth, you became pregnant for a second time.”
Sharkey is visibly shaking in the dock and dabs her eyes with a tissue.
10:35AM
‘Accepted you were experiencing an abnormality of mental functioning’
The judge tells Sharkey she can remain seated at present.
She says: “The events that bring us to this court are terrible and tragic. You Mrs Sharkey gave birth to an infant boy. You were alone and gave birth unaided in the bathroom of your family home. It’s accepted at the time you were experiencing an abnormality of mental functioning. This substantially impaired your ability to form rational judgement and exercise self control.
“You placed the body into bin bags and into your car, driving to a wooded area in Warrington and leaving the bags beside a public path. You were seen by a witness. The body was uncovered by another witness on the morning of March 14 1998.
“We cannot be sure when or precisely how he died. You have accepted your guilt for the manslaughter of your child by diminished responsibility and endeavouring to conceal that birth.”
10:32AM
The judge enters court and the sentencing begins
Justice Eady enters court.
Sharkey speaks to confirm her name and the hearing is ready to begin.
10:29AM
Sharkey embraces son before entering dock
Sharkey is brought into the dock wearing a white jacket and with her light brown tied back.
A man, believed to be her son, carries a small suitcase for her. He embraces her before taking his seat in the public gallery alongside two other men and a woman.
10:26AM
Counsel and press now in court
The prosecution and defence counsel are in position now, with the press box also filling up.
The case is due to begin at around 10.30am.
Credit: Echo
