Mum who strangled newborn son to death near theme park then kept gruesome secret for 25 years AVOIDS jail

A MUM who strangled her newborn baby to death near a theme park then kept the dark secret for 25 years has avoided jail.

The baby, named as Callum, was discovered in woodland in Warrington, , in March 1998.

Joanne Sharkey kept her grisly crimes hidden for 25 years – even from her husband – until police arrived at her door in July 2023.

The 54-year-old has now swerved jail and was instead handed a suspended sentence after she admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and concealing the child’s birth.

The horror unfolded in the Callands area of Warrington when the tot was discovered wrapped in plastic near .

He is believed to have only been a few hours old when he was strangled and beaten over the head.

A murder investigation was launched and the baby was named by as Callum.

Liverpool Crown was told Sharkey had suffered post-natal depression following the birth of her first child Matthew in July 1996.

Prosecutors believe she was “fearful” of having another baby so denied her pregnancy with Callum.

Sharkey gave birth in secret in March 1998 then killed the newborn before sealing his body inside two plastic bin bags,

A witness saw her walking “quickly” out of the woods and on to the driveway of Gulliver's World looking “visibly upset”.

He then noticed a black bin bag lying on the ground and saw that Sharkey had driven away from the scene.

Later that day, a second passer-by who was walking his dog noticed the same bin bag, which contained little Callum's body.

Jonas Hankin KC, prosecuting, said: “The infant was in a foetal position inside the bag.

“[A paramedic] touched the baby’s arm and fingers. The infant was cold, obviously dead and rigour mortis had set in.”

A post mortem revealed the baby had a “number of bruises” on his face, head and neck – including beneath his scalp.

The court heard a wad of tissue paper was found in his mouth and voice box and his umbilical cord had been torn.

He was later buried with no family members in Warrington Cemetery with a headstone reading: “Baby Callum, a precious child of God.

“With the love from the people of Warrington.”

Police hunted for Callum's mum but the case went cold for more than two decades until officers finally tracked down Sharkey.

Her older son Matthew had been arrested – meaning his DNA had gone on the police database.

His profile matched with baby Callum, with DNA taken from Sharkey and her husband revealing they were the tot's biological parents.

Bodycam footage showed her wearing a top ironically emblazoned with the word “mum” when officers arrived at her door.

One cop told her: “I am not here to judge you and I am not here to cause any unnecessary anguish for you.

“But we are involved in an investigation regarding a baby who was found deceased in woodlands on the outskirts of Warrington in 1998.”

Sharkey could be seen with her hands clasped as she was arrested on suspicion of murder.

She then pointed out her husband Neil and told officers: “He doesn't know anything”.

The court was told both she and her husband were arrested – although he was later released with no further action.

While in the back of a police car, Sharkey said: “I’m not gonna f***ing deny nothing, it is what it is isn’t it. I f***ing did it”.

She later told officers she believed she was pregnant but did not acknowledge it and “kept the secret to myself”.

Sharkey said the birth was “quite easy, quick” but was unclear about where she had baby Callum, saying: “I’m thinking bathroom, I think the bathroom.”

When asked if she caused his death, the mum continued: “I sort of reached down. I must have been on the floor at this point.

“I’ve covered his nose, his mouth. It just couldn’t make that noise, just to be quiet.”

She then replied “no comment” when asked about the baby's bruising and the tissue in his body.

The mum also explained how she could not remember if the baby was left in her car overnight before she dumped his body.

Sharkey added: “I couldn't actually say the words. It’s not easy to live with all that time. I thought this would happen. You don’t get away with anything forever.

“It's haunting, something you think about every day. You try and push it out but it creeps back in. You do Christmas and Easter but this is always in your head.”

Mr Hankin said experts found a “severe depressive illness substantially impaired defendant's ability to perform rational judgement”.

Two doctors gave the baby's medical cause of death as “unascertained” and could not determine whether he had been alive when the tissue was put in his mouth.

Adam Till, from the CPS, said: “This has been a complex case about a baby whose life was unfairly cut short.

“He would have been an adult today and it's devastating to think of the life he could have had.

“The circumstances of his death have deeply affected everyone who has been involved in this case as well as the wider community.

“We carefully considered and accepted a guilty plea to manslaughter following a thorough review of the psychiatric reports and medical evidence.

“The evidence concluded that Sharkey's mental state was significantly impaired at the time of the offence due to a medical condition which diminished her criminal responsibility.

“While the outcome of this case will never bring the baby back, we hope it brings a small measure of comfort to everyone who has been affected by this awful case.”