Greenock baby killer Nicole Blain jailed for life

A mum has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering her baby daughter and trying to blame the death on another child.

Nicole Blain, 30, was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday after being found guilty last month of killing Thea June Wilson at a flat in Greenock, Inverclyde, on July 14, 2023.

She shook the baby and inflicted horrific head injuries on her, just 19 days after her birth.

The stricken child was found to have three separate fractures to the skull, brain damage, and bleeding to her eyes.

Thea Wilson was just 19 days old when she was murdered by her mother Supplied

Blaine created a false narrative and lied

In a gender-reveal video before Thea’s birth, Blaine reacted after a balloon popped revealing she was having a girl. Speaking directly to the camera, she states: “This is an unexpected tragedy that has happened.”

Months later, after the baby’s murder, Blain posted online tributes and thanked people for their support. She said: “I just need to lay her to rest, I need to lay my baby to rest.”

Prosecutors say the mother created a false narrative and lied about what had happened inside her flat in Greenock on July 14, 2023.

Blaine gave evidence and was tearful when she told the jury she had slept through whatever happened to Thea. She said a neighbour knocking at her front door had woken her up and then she found the baby lying on the floor without her blankets or nappy.

The trial heard she immediately told the neighbour and others, including police, that another child who was in the flat at the time had dropped Thea.

There was evidence that the baby had been gripped and shaken. She suffered unsurvivable whiplash and head injuries more typically seen following a motorcycle accident.

Pathologists conclude Blaine’s story is unlikely

Five pathologists told the trial they concluded the mother’s version was very unlikely due to the magnitude of the baby’s injuries.

The trial heard that, on the morning of Thea’s murder, social workers and a health visitor had been in the flat. They described Blaine as tired and said they had no concerns.

It’s not known when the infant was hurt. Investigators narrowed down a two-hour window when the accused’s phone was on airplane mode. When Blaine switched it back on, she made a number of calls asking others for help, but she didn’t phone 999.

The prosecution said these were the actions of someone panicking about their own behaviour.

Thea sustained catastrophic injuries

In her social media posts, Blaine said her heart was full after the birth of her baby daughter.

Thea Wilson weighed the equivalent of two bags of sugar and was described in court as perfect by her paternal grandmother.

A health visitor said she was bright and alert, but Thea died 19 days after she was born from catastrophic injuries inflicted by her mother.

After a week-long trial, the jury found Blaine guilty of murder by a majority. The judge, Lord Scott, told the 30-year-old: “You have been convicted of a crime for which the only sentence is life imprisonment.”

Blaine sobbed and shouted to a support worker: “Tell my dad I love him”.

As she was led away, she was then heard saying: “I’m not going to be alright.”