Eight years abortion sentence 'excessive'

Sarah Catt - who was jailed on Monday for deliberate destruction of a child - is believed to have become pregnant following an affair with a colleague.

She claimed to have had a legitimate abortion but investigations revealed she had bought medication to induce labour.

She claimed the child was stillborn but has refused to reveal the body's location.

An Abortion Rights spokeswoman said Sarah Catt was clearly "very troubled" and said the jail term was "disproportionate.

"Women who find themselves in what seem like impossible circumstances must be treated with understanding and compassion and offered treatment if appropriate, not threatened with prosecution."