Scottish Mum Faces Shocking Accusations After Baby Daughter Dies with Cocaine in Her System

Shereen Mains, 36, has been convicted of causing “unnecessary suffering or injury” to her daughter Darcy Mains after exposing the baby to cocaine. A jury at Greenock Sheriff Court unanimously found that the mother had “exposed her baby to cocaine, whereby she ingested” the Class A drug.

The harrowing case, which unfolded over a five-day trial, revealed shocking details of the tragic events on September 8, 2019. Prosecutors described how little Darcy was discovered lifeless at the family’s Port Glasgow home. Police later uncovered traces of cocaine on four baby bottles in the residence, according to Yahoo.

Depute fiscal Kirsten Brierley recounted the grim sequence of events that led to the baby’s death:

“We were told from the first witness, a paramedic, that the mum had said that she had got up around 4am to feed the baby and went back to sleep. But she awoke to find the baby was not breathing and unresponsive.”

Brierley continued, describing the desperate attempts to save the child:

“A next door neighbour, who was a nurse, heard shouts of help at around 10.20am. She came in to help but in her experience, the baby had the appearance that she was either already dead or close to the end of life. The baby was lifeless but the witness told the court she gave CPR and called an ambulance.”

Darcy was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Inverclyde Royal Hospital. A forensic investigation of the flat revealed troubling evidence, including five baby bottles—four of which tested positive for cocaine. Police also discovered burnt foil, polythene wraps, and a homemade bong fashioned from a plastic bottle.

Experts testified that Darcy had 0.003 milligrams of cocaine in her system, consistent with exposure to the drug. Ms. Brierley stated:

“This is consistent to being exposed to cocaine, but there is no way of telling what were the peak levels.”

Defence advocate Alistair Sloan described the case as “tragic and difficult” but argued that the Crown had not proved Mains had control or possession of the cocaine.

Despite this, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict. Mains, who was also convicted of possessing cannabis and phenazepam—a potent benzodiazepine—has been bailed by Sheriff Anthony McGeehan. She will be sentenced next month.

The heartbreaking case highlights the devastating consequences of drug exposure in vulnerable environments.