Missing mum Sandra Mujuru and baby found

Jan 5 2009 by Dave Black, The Journal

A HEAVILY-pregnant woman who went missing from her Northumberland home last week has been found in London.

Sandra Mujuru, 23, had given birth to a baby girl and both mother and daughter were found to be safe and well.

Northumbria Police issued an urgent plea on Friday for help in tracking down Ms Mujuru, who was last seen at her home in Kearsley Close, Seaton Delaval on December 28. She had been due to give birth to her baby on Christmas Day, and was reported missing on December 29 after she failed to keep an appointment with social services officials.

On Friday police described her as a high-risk missing person, saying she was either heavily pregnant or had a new baby with her and had apparently not sought medical help.

In 2006, Ms Mujurus four-month-old daughter Ayesha was battered to death by her then live-in partner Jerry Stephens.

The 37-year-old, of New Malden, London, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the baby girl.

But Ms Mujuru was also convicted of offences under new domestic violence laws at the Old Bailey. The legislation aims to stop parents who keep silent or blame each other for fatal injuries from walking free.

Jurors found her guilty of causing or allowing the death of her daughter. She was also convicted of child cruelty in failing to get medical assistance for Ayesha.

The Zimbabwean national, who moved to Northumberland last summer, could have faced a lengthy jail term for the offences.

But a judge gave her a two-year community penalty after ruling she was a loving mother who would not have willingly harmed her child.

Judge Christopher Moss found Ms Mujuru was a decent woman caught in a vulnerable position.

On Saturday The Journal reported the appeal from Northumbria Police to track her down. She was found later that day at an address in Ilford, London with her new daughter.

She was known to have strong family and other links with the Tottenham and Ilford areas of the capital.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said Ms Mujuru had given birth to a baby girl, but it was not known when she had the baby. She said no further action was being taken.