A woman who tried to kidnap a baby has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Rebecca Nightingale, 28, of Wheatfield Way, Kingston, received a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, for attempting to snatch the six-month-old girl from the Reebok shop in Richmond and assaulting the girl’s mother on February 10, 2014.

From March 20: Woman tried to kidnap baby in shoe shop after her fifth child was taken away by social services

At Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, April 8, Judge Paul Dodgson acknowledged that Nightingale "was clearly in a state of severe distress" when she committed the offence.

Her fifth child was being taken into care earlier that same day, the court heard.  

He said: "People in Miss Nightingale’s position are vulnerable to the forces of the world.

"However it must be acknowledged that some of the misfortune that she has suffered has been a result of her own actions.

"Your actions caused a great deal of upset to the mother and it must have been an extremely frightening experience.

"I said when I tried this case that I had no intention of sending you to prison and I still don’t."

During her trial, Nightingale said she believed social services were against her and tried to interrupt the judge during her sentencing to complain about social services.

Mr Dodgson said: "I know your anxiety about social services but what we are all hoping is that with a bit of help you may come to realise that social services are not as bad as you currently think they are."

Nightingale will be subject to a supervision order for 18 months and will have 16 sessions in a structured supervision programme.