Mother Jailed for Six Years After Three-Month-Old Baby Dies Following Hairdryer Incident

A mother has been sentenced to six years in prison after her three-month-old daughter died following an incident involving sustained heat from a hairdryer.

Courtney Gartshore, 28, was convicted of culpable homicide over the death of her baby, Dahlia-Rose Gartshore, at a property on King Street in Peterhead, Scotland, on September 30, 2023.

According to evidence heard during the trial, Gartshore used a hairdryer that exposed the infant to “significant and sustained heat” on her head and body.

Emergency services were called to the property, but Dahlia-Rose was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gartshore had been drinking while she was solely responsible for caring for her daughter. She was also said to have taken the Class B drug mephedrone before the incident.

Baby suffered extensive burns

The investigation into Dahlia-Rose’s death began shortly afterward.

Gartshore, who is from Aberdeen, was arrested and charged in November 2023.

During her trial at the High Court in Aberdeen in July, jurors heard that the three-month-old had suffered burns covering 18 per cent of her body.

The infant’s DNA was subsequently found on the hairdryer.

Gartshore’s defence argued that Dahlia-Rose might already have been dead before the burns occurred. However, the jury rejected that argument and returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for just over an hour.

Gartshore broke down in tears as she was led from the dock.

Six-year prison sentence

Gartshore returned to the same court on August 14 for sentencing, where a judge imposed a six-year prison term.

Following the conviction, Detective Inspector James Callander described the circumstances surrounding Dahlia-Rose’s death as “incredibly disturbing.”

“Children are defenceless and should be protected,” he said.

The officer added that while the death of any child is deeply distressing, the circumstances were particularly harrowing because the child died at the hands of a parent.

He said investigators had been focused on establishing what happened and ensuring that the person responsible was brought to justice.

Detective Inspector Callander also praised the officers and partner agencies involved in the investigation, saying they had worked tirelessly to examine the complex case with care, dignity and respect.

He further thanked members of the local community who provided information and supported the investigation, saying their cooperation had been valuable in helping authorities establish the circumstances and secure the conviction.