A mum was arrested for "poisoning her own children" after she became convinced they had taken her sleeping pills during a paranoid panic.
Laura Turner, 44, has told how she woke up in St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, after taking her children to A&E fearful they had consumed some of her medication. The mum, who had attempted to take her own life, said that, while she didn't remember being transferred to hospital, "presumably because I was unconscious or sedated", she was told later in that journey that she was "arrested on claims that I had attempted to poison my children".
Speaking to MyLondon, she claimed that hospital notes written for nurses and other staff had repeatedly stated she poisoned her children. She said: “It was an accusation presented as fact. Isn’t it that you’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty?" Her husband, Duncan, had rushed to the hospital only to find his wife had gone, and he was asked by nurses whether they could take urine samples from his children, who he said "all seemed fine".
Laura's husband Duncan said the children "seemed fine" (Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)Following her arrest in June 2021, the Metropolitan Police and social services became involved, and they informed Duncan his wife's bail conditions meant she could have neither direct nor indirect contact with her children without prior permission from the latter organisation. Mrs Turner was admitted to St George's to receive treatment for a fractured clavicle, and, while there, was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome, a condition whereby people are compelled to seek treatment for false or exaggerated symptoms.
Duncan claimed the diagnosis was a case of a psychiatrist failing to understand "the chronology of events" and "projecting the blame for Laura’s symptoms onto her". She claimed the alleged note had a significant negative impact on her treatment, and that the fracture was not appropriately treated.
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The mum remained at St George's Hospital for four weeks, after which she was placed in two psychiatric wards - at Tolworth Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital - for a further three months. After she was released from psychiatric care, Laura learned she was suffering from a condition called akathisia, a side effect of some commonly prescribed medications, after seeking specialist medical advice. The mum claims akathisia - which causes intense feelings of restlessness, agitation and suicidal thoughts among others - was responsible for the paranoid haze during which she rushed her children to A&E, and her other unpleasant symptoms.
DNA tests confirmed she was suffering from a serious issue with metabolising drugs. She was given antidepressants and other medications following a beauty treatment gone wrong in 2021. American neurotoxicologist Dr Raymond Singer, with whom the mum had consulted, said she had been involuntarily intoxicated at the time of the alleged offence, as she had been unable to think rationally, clearly or competently to form intent to commit a crime. The Metropolitan Police concluded in 2024 that no further action would be taken with her case, and, in a statement said it was "acutely aware of the stress a police investigation can have on all those involved".
Laura later learned she was suffering from akathisia (Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)A spokesperson said: "In June 2021, police arrested a woman after concerns were raised for the welfare of children in her care. Specialist detectives were assigned investigate all the circumstances and gather potential evidence, and the woman was released on bail while this took place. Police will always try to ensure investigations are conducted as swiftly as possible, but must pursue all available evidence – in complex cases this can take some time. After all the evidence was compiled and presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, a decision was taken in February 2024 that the woman would face no further action.
"We are acutely aware of the stress a police investigation can have on all those involved, but officers have a duty to ensure all lines of enquiry are fully investigated before an outcome can be reached." A Merton Council spokesperson said: "The welfare of children and their families is at the heart of the work we do, and our first priority is to safeguard those who are vulnerable or at risk in our community. We regularly work with other agencies to consider all aspects of a safeguarding situation to decide the most appropriate response."
They added: "While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints seriously and work hard to find resolutions to any issues raised about our services." A spokesperson for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group said: “We strive to ensure all patients receive safe and compassionate care, and are very sorry to hear that Mrs Turner was unhappy with her experience in our hospitals. While Mrs Turner has previously raised some of her concerns with us directly, which we responded to, we are here should she wish to discuss or highlight anything further.”
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.
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