A woman in China who had an abortion was shocked to find that the midwife had 'saved' the child and sold him to another family.

In April 2013, 18-year-old Lili from Inner Mongolia found out she was pregnant and didn't tell anyone until she reached 35 weeks.

Accompanied by her brother, she underwent an abortion which she was told was successful. However some three days later she was told by police that the child had been saved by a nurse.

In April 2013, 18-year-old Lili from Inner Mongolia found out she was pregnant (File photo)

The maternity nurse Liang Xiaohua confessed that she felt the fetus had the possibility of surviving (File photo)

The procedure went smoothly and when it came to pay the costs of the procedure, Lili also paid for the 20 yuan (£2.27) disposal fee of the fetus, reports Sina.

The maternity nurse Liang Xiaohua confessed that she felt the fetus had the possibility of surviving.

Liang Xiaohua said that she heard the child crying and took it out from the plastic bag to rescue. She attached the baby to oxygen and gave it water while she hid it in a cupboard.

The nurse was overheard calling someone and asking if they wanted a child and telling them that she did not know if it was a boy or a girl.

She sold it to her cousin who took the child to her home.

Local villagers became suspicious of the cousin and informed police of the baby.

Some three days later, Lili found out that the baby had not died during the abortion and that the child had been sold.

The nurse was overheard calling someone and asking if they wanted a child (File photo)

Some three days later, Lili found out that the baby was still alive (File photo)

Lili asked the police about the child's whereabouts but would not reveal where it was. She claimed that officers then became unresponsive.

Lili visited multiple Health Bureaus and Family Planning Bureaus however they would not tell her about her child.

Hongshan District Public Security Bureau deputy commander Zhang said he came to the conclusion that the baby was abducted. However a petition would not be filed.

Eventually on January 8, 2014, Liang Xiaohua was arrested on suspicion of child abduction. Lili asked Liang Xiaohua for compensation including medical costs, lawyer's fees and support costs of 1.1 million yuan (£124,000).

Liang Xiaohua was sentenced to two years in prison for the abduction of the child. However Lili was not granted compensation.

Lili appealed but had no such luck.

In February 2014, Hongshan District Public Security Bureau deputy commander Zhang and three other members of staff were found guilty for dereliction of duty but were not handed sentences.

The court case was finally closed in May 2017.