Jail inmate flees hospital after having baby

Police were today hunting for a woman prisoner who escaped early today from a hospital where she recently gave birth.

Julie Nevan, who is in her early 20s, disappeared from Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, shortly after midnight, just days after giving birth to a daughter.

She was being held at New Hall Prison, near Wakefield, awaiting sentence for theft, when she was taken to the hospital to have the baby.

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police said: ‘‘A young female prisoner from New Hall Prison, who was in Pinderfields Hospital, having given birth recently to a baby girl, has absconded from the hospital.

‘‘She is not described as dangerous but police are concerned for her welfare, especially after having recently having given birth.

‘‘An extensive search has been made already but so far we have failed to locate her,’’ she added.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said the baby was safe and well in hospital, where she was being cared for by nurses.

Nevan is described as white, 5ft 4ins tall, slim with collar-length brown hair. She was last seen wearing a nightie.

Police appealed for any witnesses especially bus and taxi drivers who might have picked her up to contact them.

It is believed that Nevan is originally from the Derby area and gave birth only a few days ago.