A 22-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging she illegally administered drugs in order to procure an abortion.

Bethany Cox, of Stockton-on-Tees appeared before the recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Watson KC, at Teesside crown court.

Two charges were put to Cox.

The first was that: “On 6 July 2020 at Stockton, with intent to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive, by a wilful act, namely administering drugs to procure abortion, contrary to section 58 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, caused the child to die before it had an existence independent of its mother.”

The second charge was “Between 2 July 2020 and 7 July 2020 at Stockton being a woman with child, unlawfully administered to yourself a poison or other noxious thing, namely misoprostol, with intent to procure your own miscarriage.”

Cox pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place towards the end of the first Covid lockdown in July 2020 with restrictions in England eased on 4 July.

Cox spoke only to confirm her name, age and plead not guilty to the two charges.

The public gallery was almost full for the 15-minute hearing, with Cox accompanied into the building by supporters.

A trial date of 15 January next year was set and Cox, represented by barrister Victoria Lamballe, was granted unconditional bail.

The hearing heard that psychiatric reports would also be prepared before the trial.

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