Mother who murdered baby daughter and blamed ‘brutal’ death on another child jailed for life

A woman has been handed a life sentence for the “violent and brutal” murder of her 19-day-old daughter.

Nicole Blain was jailed for at least 19 years at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, following the death of infant Thea Wilson in Greenock, Inverclyde, on July 14, 2023.

Lord Scott, who imposed the sentence, dismissed Blain’s “absurd” claims that another child had been responsible for Thea’s death.

Blain was found guilty of murder last month following a trial at the same court.

She had been charged with murdering her daughter by repeatedly shaking her and repeatedly inflicting blunt force trauma upon her by means unknown to the prosecutor.

Police received a report of a baby having taken unwell at a property in Greenock on July 14, 2023.

Thea was taken to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where she died.

Following the conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Laura Young said: “This is a tragic case in which a baby has lost her life and Nicole Blain will now have to face the consequences of her actions.

“I would like to thank all the officers involved, as well as our partner agencies, for their work during this investigation.”