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Thursday, 16 May, 2002, 11:01 GMT 12:01 UK
Teenager admits baby kidnap
Elizabeth (left) and her twin sister
Elizabeth (left) safely back with her twin sister
A teenager has appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court and pleaded guilty to kidnapping a two-day-old baby from a Midlands hospital.

Kelly Louise Oldnall, 18, admitted taking Elizabeth Rice, who has an identical twin, from the maternity ward of the Wordsley Hospital in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

Elizabeth was found safe and well seven hours after she disappeared on 6 May.

Oldnall, of Tennyson Street, Pensnett, Dudley, was remanded in custody for pre-sentence reports to be prepared following the seven-minute court hearing.

Kelly Louise Oldnall is led awat by guards
Kelly Louise Oldnall is led away by guards

Before she disappeared, Elizabeth had been sharing a cot with her twin while their mother, Deanne, slept nearby.

The chief executive of the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, Paul Farenden, admitted CCTV cameras were not working at the Wordsley Hospital when Elizabeth was taken.

He has since apologised to Mrs Rice and her husband Richard and promised a thorough review of security.

He also announced extra security guards had been positioned on the maternity ward.

Mrs Rice, a dentist from Oldswinford, Stourbridge, said she had been "utterly devastated" to find that her baby had been taken.

She said that even after Elizabeth had been found safe and well, her ordeal was not over until she had held her in her arms.

Mrs Rice says she is now concentrating on family life.

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News image The BBC's Helen Simms
"The case renewed fears in hospitals across the country"

Click here to go to BBC Birmingham Online
See also:

11 May 02 | England
Baby snatch mum tells of ordeal
08 May 02 | England
Woman accused of snatching twin
08 May 02 | England
Woman in court over baby snatch
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