Mother Jailed for Killing Baby With Hairdryer as Defence Cites Childhood Trauma
Three months old Dahlia-Rose Gartshore’s death has emphasised the need to keep young children safe after her mother’s parent was jailed for culpable homicide in Scotland.
Courtney Gartshore, 28, was sentenced after a High Court trial in Aberdeen after the baby died in September 2023. The court was told Gartshore had been giving Dahlia-Rose a hot-dryer treatment that amounted to “significant and sustained” abuse, resulting in serious injuries.
Emergency services were called to a Peterhead, Aberdeenshire home, but the baby had already passed away. The court was informed the appliance had been used for as long as one hour on Dahlia-Rose, resulting in burns on about 18% of her skin.
The case was in the eyes of Judge Simon Collins KC, “particularly disturbing” due to the child’s “very young age” and the circumstances of her death. He said the evidence did not show a pattern of neglect or abuse that lasted over a period of time but was a serious diversion from a primarily good standard of care.
The case has brought the issue of babies’ vulnerability to the fore, as they are wholly reliant on adults for their protection, care and needs. Infants may not be able to identify threats, or call for assistance in case of danger and early detection of concerns is critical.
The court was told that Gartshore had suffered childhood trauma and mental health issues by the defence. She insisted that she never used the hairdryer on her daughter.
The case highlights the importance of robust support for families in significant trouble, and systems that can identify risks before children are harmed, from a child protection perspective.
Ensuring the safety of infants is dependent on safe caregiver settings and early identification and intervention to support families with concerns.
