A North-East mother has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after being found guilty of trying to poison her baby with salt.

Rebecca Graham added salt to her daughter's bottles hoping to have the baby admitted to hospital so she would not have to look after her, a court was told.

But she was caught when a nurse became suspicious.

Graham, who has no other children and lives with her partner in Stanley, County Durham, admitted trying to poison her baby and cruelty to a child when she appeared at Newcastle Crown Court today.