Girl, 15, Charged With Perverting the Course of Justice After Newborn Baby Found Dead at Sheffield Property

Police discovered the body of the infant at a property in a suburb in the north-east of Sheffield Credit: Ioannis Alexopoulos/LNP

A 15-year-old girl has been charged with perverting the course of justice after police discovered the body of a newborn baby at a property in Sheffield.

The infant, known in court as Baby S, was found at a house in Holywell Heights, Wincobank, in the early hours of Sunday, August 30.

A court heard that the baby had suffered multiple injuries shortly after being born and that she was later discovered wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag on top of a washing machine in an outhouse.

On Wednesday, Andrea Skopova, 20, appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of her newborn daughter.

Her boyfriend, Peter Horvath Jr, 19, and his parents, Nina Horvathova, 37, and Peter Horvath Sr, 38, also appeared in court.

All four adults are accused of murder, as well as causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice. Prosecutors allege that part of the offence involved cleaning the scene at the property.

The 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named because of her age, is separately charged with perverting the course of justice.

All five defendants are Slovakian and required interpreters during the hearing.

Police alerted after mother arrives at hospital

Forensics teams discovered a dead baby wrapped in towelling and in a blue bag on top of a washing machine Credit: Ioannis Alexopoulos/LNP

Prosecutor Luke Hopkinson told the court that Baby S was born at an address in Holywell Heights during the early hours of August 30.

He said Skopova had given birth at approximately 37 weeks and later attended hospital, where medical staff recognised that she had recently given birth.

Police were alerted shortly after 5am.

Officers initially attended Skopova’s home address but, after discovering that the baby was not there, went to the property in Holywell Heights.

There, they allegedly found the newborn deceased in an outhouse.

Nina Horvathova, the mother of Peter Horvath Jr, allegedly helped clean up the bloodstained bathroom

Mr Hopkinson told the court that Peter Horvath Jr was Skopova’s current boyfriend but was not believed to be the baby’s father.

The prosecutor said the infant had suffered severe injuries and that a medical examination indicated she had been alive when they occurred.

A knife was also recovered from the property.

Allegations of a cleaned bathroom

The court heard further allegations concerning what happened inside the house following the baby’s death.

Prosecutors allege that Nina Horvathova and the 15-year-old girl cleaned the bathroom where the incident is said to have occurred.

An eight-year-old child was also present inside the property at the time, the court was told.

Police forensic teams subsequently examined the house as investigators worked to establish exactly what had happened in the hours surrounding the baby’s birth and death.

The circumstances have now become the focus of a major criminal investigation, with prosecutors continuing to outline the allegations against the five defendants.

District Judge Tim Spruce remanded all five defendants in custody.

They are due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday as the case moves to the next stage of proceedings.