Couple devastated over internet baby sale scam

A CHILDLESS couple who were tricked by “surrogate mother” Moira Greenslade said yesterday they felt like they suffered a “bereavement”.

Sharon and Peter Robinson-Hudson, from Wrexham, north Wales, handed over £1,000 (€1,500) after being offered an unborn baby through an Internet site.

But six months before the baby was due to be born Greenslade cancelled the deal without warning.

At Bingley Magistrates Court on Monday the 33-year-old, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining money by deception and three offences under the Adoption Act.

The devastated couple had even bought baby clothes for the child.

Mrs Robinson-Hudson said: “We are the victims of a cruel deception.

“We are totally devastated by the torment we have been put through, we feel like we have suffered a bereavement.”

She added: “It is important now that we see justice, and then we will try and move on and rebuild our lives.”

The couple got in touch with Greenslade via email and met the woman on a number of occasions.

Magistrates at yesterday’s court hearing heard how Greenslade made at least £2,500 by offering to give up her own baby.

The Robinson-Hudsons were not the only couple tricked by the scam. Two other couples contacted Greenslade via the internet.

Scottish husband and wife Mark and Michelle Johnson, who had suffered 13 miscarriages and eight failed attempts at IVF treatment, handed over £1,500 to Greenslade.

She cancelled the agreement a week before the baby was due.

Mr Robinson-Hudson , a 43-year-old trainee bus driver, said: “What this woman did to all of us is terrible.

“By the time we were told the baby would not be ours we had handed over a substantial amount of cash.”

Greenslade eventually gave birth to a baby girl in Southampton’s Princess Anne Hospital.

Present at the birth was 33-year-old Janet Rashley and her husband Andy, aged 41, from Southampton. They had also been promised the child for which they had agreed to pay Greenslade £8,000.

Mrs Rashley, who is unable to have children of her own, told the Daily Mail: “The doctors let me wash, dress and feed her. I was shaking and crying with happiness.”

Her delight was short-lived after police officers arrived, escorted the Rashleys outside and explained what Greenslade had done.

Greenslade’s baby has been placed in care, her case was adjourned for sentencing and she was released on conditional bail.