A woman who searched ‘how long is a prison sentence if I own up to covering up for someone’ after she lied for a friend accused of abusing his baby has walked free from court.
Cody Mort, 22, was spared being put behind bars after telling a judge she had ‘failed to comprehend’ the seriousness of her lies.
She lied to medics and police, telling them the infant had been left with the fractures after witnessing him kicking a TV stand while having his nappy changed.
But she was arrested after the baby’s father admitted she was not present when the toddler was injured.
The baby suffered a fractured left tibia, a fracture in the fourth fifth and seventh ribs and a healing fracture in the sixth and has since been placed in foster care.
Inquiries later revealed the 22-year-old had searched on Google: ‘Covering for someone who abuses their child’.
Mort later admitted to officers that she had lied.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, she faced up to a year in jail under sentencing guidelines after she admitted perverting the course of justice but she was freed with 19 weeks of imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
It all happened in August 2023 when she was staying over at her friend’s home.
Prosecuting, Patrick Williamsons said: ‘The defendant rang her mother and informed her that late during the previous evening she had heard the baby crying.
‘She said the following morning the baby was giving her concern in particular his left leg and the youngster was taken to hospital.
‘At the Oldham A&E department, Miss Mort said the injury had been caused by the baby kicking out at a TV unit and she stated that she had been present when it happened.
‘Her mother spoke to the defendant’s father and told him what had been said by the defendant including asserting she had been present when the baby was injured. The father was angered that the friend might be responsible for the baby’s injuries.
‘But in a text message the defendant said: ‘If he tells, he’s never seeing me again’.’
Mort and the friend were later arrested and interviewed. But Mort maintained she had witnessed the baby kicking out with his leg and striking the TV unit – and insisted her account was the truth.
She said her friend would ‘struggle’ to explain matters and she too ‘took the lead’ when he was quizzed about the baby’s injuries.
But police became suspicious when the friend confessed Mort was not present during the incident and he relayed his account to her.
That night Mort researched possible punishments for her lying on Google and a week later contacted police and said she wanted to be re interviewed.
Mr Williamson added: ‘She admitted her previous assertion that she was present at the time was false. She said she had panicked when giving her first account.’
Mort had no previous convictions.
In mitigation defence counsel Richard Flook said: ‘No significant mischief that has been caused by her lie. She was at the hospital at the time she first said these things. She panicked and took the lead and got herself in a position where she couldn’t get out of it.
‘When it was raised he said differently, she corrected this and went to the police of her own volition and told them she had lied. She’s well aware that there is a risk of custodial sentence. She’s very polite and very understanding and has shown genuine remorse and regret.
‘It’s been a very difficult time for her. She is struggling with anxiety and there are significant mental health considerations to take into account.
‘At the time she failed to comprehend the seriousness of her actions. She is at a low risk of re-offending.’
In sentencing Judge Neil Usher told Mort: ‘In lying, you ran the risk that appropriate medical treatment could have been denied or delayed to this baby because you didn’t tell the truth.
‘But you have expressed remorse which is genuine. You do not pose a risk in my judgement.’
Mort, of Shaw, near Oldham, was also ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation requirement days.
Her friend cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of the child.
He is charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and will face trial in March next year.