Mother jailed for smothering son, 3

A mother was jailed for 10 years today for smothering her three-year-old son to death with a pillow.

Tara Haigh (aged 24) was found guilty of murdering Billy at their home in Guildford, Surrey, in November 2005 by a 10-2 majority.

She was jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years.

The Old Bailey was told that she was trying to find a boyfriend online within hours of suffocating the boy.

After attempts to resuscitate him in hospital failed, Haigh went to her parents’ home.

Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, said: “An examination of the computer showed that within a few hours of her son’s death, she was accessing messages sent to her by men on the website Girls Date Free.”

She even arranged a date with one man, posting a message on the website saying her son had died from a tumour behind the ear.