A WOMAN has appeared in court charged with poisoning two children, following an eight-month police investigation.

The 27-year-old is being investigated in connection with the alleged poisoning last summer of an 18-month-old toddler and a baby boy.

She appeared before Newcastle magistrates charged with two offences of administering poison to endanger life and two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to children.

The four-month-old boy died on June 8.

The woman cannot be named for legal reasons, but lives in the Blakelaw area of Newcastle.

She spoke only to confirm her name and address.

The woman was also charged with possession of heroin with intent to supply.

It is alleged that she was in possession of more than three grams of heroin with intent to supply Michael Sowerby at Acklington Prison, Northumberland.

The case was adjourned until April 23 and the defendant was granted unconditional bail.

Last week, Sowerby, 34, of Kenton, Newcastle, had his sentence cut at the Court of Appeal, in London.

He was involved in a Christmas Day fracas in a Newcastle pub, and later injured his feet after leaping from the window of his flat in an attempt to evade police.

Sowerby was jailed for two years, cut to 15 months on appeal.