Outrage as mother-of-three jailed for taking abortion pills after legal cut off

The Independent says Parliament must consider overhauling the “out-of-date” law used to jail a mother-of-three who illegally obtained abortion tablets to end her pregnancy during lockdown, a senior Tory has said.

Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, joined women’s rights groups in calling for reform to the 1861 legislation used to prosecute Carla Foster.

The 44-year-old was given a 28-month extended sentence after she admitted illegally procuring her own abortion when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant.

Abortions are generally only legal before 24 weeks and are carried out in clinics after 10 weeks of pregnancy.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/abortion-pills-jailed-carla-foster-b2356383.html