Curate challenges police over cleft palate abortion

A CHURCH curate has won permission to challenge the refusal of police to prosecute doctors who carried out a late abortion on a woman because she did not want a baby with a cleft lip and palate.

The Rev Joanna Jepson, curate of St Michael's Church in Chester, was given the go-ahead for a legal action against Paul West, Chief Constable of West Mercia Police, over a decision not to bring charges.

Lord Justice Rose and Mr Justice Jackson, sitting in London, criticised late changes in the way the challenge was presented to the court but agreed the case raised "issues of law and issues of public importance" which should go to a full hearing.