A WOMAN WHO claimed her baby was taken from her by a security guard as she breastfed in a shop in Leicester, England, has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
Caroline Starmer (28), a mother-of-four, alleged on Facebook that a security guard had taken her 9-month-old daughter Paige from her as she fed her in the corner of a Penneys (trading as Primark in the UK) store.
The allegation swiftly went viral online after it was first posted. At the time Primark staunchly defended itself, claiming that all available CCTV evidence failed to support Starmer’s claim.
“A 28-year-old woman has been summoned to appear at court charged with intent to pervert the course of public justice,” Leicestershire Police said in a statement today.
It follows an allegation made in which a woman claimed that while in a store in Humberstone Gate, Leicester, on Monday 13 July, she was assaulted by a security guard.
Caroline Starmer, of Leicester, is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Monday 24 August.
Primark itself has released a statement today saying that it “notes” the charges against Starmer.
“Mrs Starmer alleged to police and the press that she was breastfeeding her child in our store when a security guard told her she must cease and forcibly removed the child from her,” the statement says.
Primark has cooperated fully with police investigators, and will not be commenting further on the ongoing proceedings against Mrs Starmer.
We are pleased to have the opportunity however to confirm that Primark will continue to work hard to ensure that all of our customers have a comfortable and enjoyable experience in our stores.
This of course includes breastfeeding mothers.
“Criminal proceedings have now commenced and the defendant has the right to a fair trial,” said Leicestershire Police.
It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
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