A 23-year-old woman has admitted killing her 18-month-old son, who died after he fell from the sixth floor of a block of flats.



Elliot Procter was found with fatal injuries at the bottom of the Newcastle House flats in the Barkerend area of Bradford, West Yorkshire, in October last year.

His mother, Gemma Procter, was due to go on trial at Bradford crown court on Monday accused of Elliot’s murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility when the charge was put to her again.

Kama Melly QC, prosecuting, said the plea was acceptable and that two psychiatrists who had assessed her agreed on their conclusions, which were not shared with the court.

No details of what happened at Newcastle House on 21 October 2017 were outlined in the 10-minute hearing.

Procter stood in the dock surrounded by staff from the secure hospital where she is being held. She waved to a woman in the public gallery, who blew her a kiss as she was led from the dock.

Procter spoke only to confirm her name and to deny murder but admit manslaughter.

The judge, Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said there was a “massive interest” in the case, “quite rightly”. He told Procter, of Newcastle House, Bradford: “We will resolve this matter, come what may, on 15 June when all the doctors and everybody else who needs to have a say have reported to me.”

Procter was remanded in custody until the sentencing.