S03 · E70

Baby Farm: Part 1

Sylvia Spencer visited Dr. Jonathan Francis seeking to terminate her pregnancy - she had been deserted by her boyfriend and wanted to conceal her condition from her brutal, disapproving father. Dr. Francis told her that an abortion was not possible and persuaded her to continue the pregnancy and release her baby for adoption. She took this advice and immediately after birth the child was placed in the custody of Mrs. Hine who had been unsuccessfully trying to become pregnant for years. However the prosecution allege this was no legal or proper adoption case. Both women were patients of Dr. Francis and the prosecution argue that Mrs. Hine was tricked into paying £2000 to adopt the child under the pretext of extortionate charges for care of Miss Spencer during a "difficult" pregnancy. The doctor faces trial for obtaining money by deception but insists he is innocent - the costs were entirely legitimate and in no way payment for adoption.