Doctor jailed for attempt to poison lover’s unborn baby
The judge said he had been exposed as a “liar, cheat and predator”.
Judge Richard Hone told the Old Bailey that Erin had led a fantasy life where he preyed on women by dazzling them with his wealth.
But he had betrayed his profession, his wife and lover Bella Prowse.
Erin, 44, a married father of two from Kensington, west London, was found guilty last month of two offences of attempting to administer abortion-inducing drugs to Prowse, 33.
Judge Hone jailed him for six years on each count, to be served concurrently.
Clare Montgomery QC, defending, said he had been threatened in prison and was being treated as a vulnerable prisoner.
Montgomery said: “According to prison law, Dr Erin is a man who is to be attacked in prison.
“His first night was spent with other prisoners screaming threats on his life.
“His life, he explains, has been destroyed and it falls to your lordship to sentence a man who feels his life is over.”
Erin’s wife, microbiologist Dr Lowri Erin, was not in court. She has said she will stand by her husband.
Erin had been a chest consultant at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, west London, and Prowse, worked there as a secretary.
They began a relationship after a Christmas party. But six weeks later, she found she was pregnant.
Erin panicked and put tablets into a coffee at Starbucks last year. Prowse became suspicious when she noticed the cup had been opened and saw the coffee.
The next day, he tried with powder in a bottle of orange juice at the hospital.
Prowse realised the seal had been broken and took the contents of both drinks to police.
She gave birth to a healthy boy, Ernie, last year. Erin disputes his paternity.
