Greenock baby killer Nicole Blain who murdered daughter 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.

Lord Scott imposed a life sentence on Blain at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, saying it would be 19 years before she could be considered for parole.

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

Blain created a false narrative and lied

In a gender-reveal video before Thea’s birth, Blain 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.

Blain 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.

‘This was no accident’

The judge told Blain: “Despite what you have continued to say, what happened was no accident.

“It could not have been caused by a fall or being dropped.

“Despite persistent attempts to suggest it, what was done was not by another child, but by you, the main person responsible for the care of baby Thea.

“Rather than love, protect and nurture her, what Thea received from you was catastrophic deadly violence.

“What the jury decided beyond reasonable doubt was that, in an act that was intentional or wickedly reckless, you murdered a tiny defenceless baby.

“With a hint of pre-meditation, you did this having previously suggested that you were worried what would happen to Thea mentioning also the other child being rough.”

A large group of women were in court mainly due to the attention the case got on both mainstream and social media.

One yelled at an emotionless Blain as she was led back to the cells: “F***ing monster”.

After the hearing the women in court held a balloon release in tribute to the baby, along with cries of “Justice for Thea”.

‘Moving’ impact statements

Lord Scott also told the court he had read three “moving” impact statements from Thea’s father and grandparents.

He said: “They each give insight into the severe and continuing impact into their lives of a much loved child.

“Ross Wilson said losing Thea broke his heart and shattered his life. “He described being a dad as the most important thing in his life.

“He has suffered feelings of guilt wondering if he could have done more to prevent Thea’s needless death.

“He said: ‘I only had 45 minutes with Thea before she died. This was 45 minutes to say goodbye to the girl I loved more than anything’”.

The impact statement continued: “The emptiness I felt walking away from her…since that moment, I cannot sleep, eat or take part in any form of physical exercise.

“The pain is constant – it does not ease, it does not fade.”

All three were unable to attend Thea’s funeral.

The judge remarked this was because of “something for reasons I do not know, but may be attributable” to Blain.

Pathologists conclude Blain’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 Blain 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 Blain 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, Blain 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 Blain 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.”

Blain 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.”

‘This has been a nightmare’

Emma Compston, who knew Nicole, told STV News: “This whole three years has been a nightmare, we weren’t sure what the verdict was going to be.

“When the verdict was called out, it was like reliving that whole day again. As a community, it broke every single person. Nicole might not have wanted Thea but we loved her.

“Today, the whole point was putting Thea’s face out there and not Nicole’s. The whole trial, the whole time, her face has been out there. We want it be about Thea and purely about Thea.

“Everybody is here today for Thea because we care and we loved her.

“Thea would be three-years-old now, coming up to be three on June 25. We can’t give her a birthday present but we can give her this today, hopefully this is the start of her resting.

“I wish we could have done more, I’ve got regrets of my own, but there’s nothing else we could have done.”