Drinking while pregnant 'could become a crime'

The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on whether a pregnant woman committed "a crime of violence" against her child when she drank a "grossly excessive" amount of alcohol while pregnant.

After a day-long hearing Lord Dyson, the Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Lady Justice King, said the court would take time to consider its decision.

Lawyers for child "CP", who cannot be named for legal reasons, asked three judges to rule in a test case that the girl, now aged seven, is entitled to compensation after being born with an alcohol-related disorder.

More: Drinking while pregnant 'could become criminal offence'

The Court of Appeal is to decide in a test case whether a pregnant woman committed "a crime of violence" against her child when she drank alcohol to excess while pregnant.

Lawyers for child "CP", who cannot be named for legal reasons, are asking three judges to rule the seven-year-old is entitled to compensation as a victim of violent crime after being born with an alcohol-related disorder.

If the appeal succeeds, it could pave the way for pregnant women's behaviour to be criminalised, according to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) and Birthrights.

However, a lawyer representing the unnamed council told ITV's Good Morning Britain programme that the case is about the "rights of the unborn child."

A court case being heard today on criminal injuries compensation, for a child whose mother drank during pregnancy, could pave the way to the criminalisation of pregnant women's behaviour two leading women's charities are warning.

Neil Sugarman, the lawyer representing the unnamed council, told ITV's Good Morning Britain programme that the case wasn't about the "criminalisation" of women, but the rights of the unborn child.