The mother who falsely alleged that a security guard in Primark snatched her baby from her while she was breastfeeding has managed to avoid prison.
According to BBC News, Caroline Starmer was charged by police after the retailer investigated her claims and found no evidence in the CCTV footage from the Leicester store.
Having previously admitted intending to pervert the course of justice, this week she was handed down an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years.
Judge Simon Hammond said Starmer had done a “gross disservice to many mothers” and that this was a “very serious case of perverting the course of justice.”
The 28-year-old made the claims on the ‘Free to Feed’ Facebook page, after which the story was covered by various media outlets.
At the time Primark issued a statement, explaining: “We do not prohibit breastfeeding.
“In addition, any customer can request a quiet or private area within the store to breastfeed her child and our staff will do all they can to accommodate such a request.
“Please do not hesitate to ask staff for assistance.”
BBC News reports that the court heard how Starmer, who has apparently made similar claims in the past, had 17 miscarriages and suffers from mental health issues.
