A NEWPORT mother who last year gave birth in prison has been let down by the authorities who should be helping her, a court heard.

The Argus featured the story of Ann Mary Punt, aged 33, of Lambourne Crescent, Bettws, last year when she was jailed while heavily pregnant.

It was revealed last week at Newport magistrates court that her newly-born baby had been taken away from her after she gave birth to the child in jail.

Punt was remanded in custody while psychiatric reports were being prepared - but her solicitor launched an attack on the system which he claims is failing her. Punt had pleaded guilty to theft from a shop and the breach of a rehabilitation order (formerly called a probation order).

Gareth Driscoll, representing Punt, said that after her spending three weeks in custody, during which time no progress has been made, "It is appalling and shocking that a bed has not been found for her at St Cadoc's Hospital so that this assessment can be carried out.

"It is simply not good enough for a doctor to say that Mrs Punt will be seen on June 20. "We are where we were three weeks ago, when I hoped reports could have been done in seven days, but June 20 is another three weeks away and this lady will have been seven weeks in custody.

"The point has to be made on behalf of Mrs Punt that it is not good enough to sit back and wait.

"The over-riding principle here is the principle of fairness. "We still have no idea whether a bed is available and it is absolutely shocking that she has been so failed by the agencies that are supposed to protect her." Punt was convicted of failing to surrender to her bail and breach of a rehabilitation order last month.

The theft was committed in January and pre-dated the rehabilitation order, the court heard.

Mr Driscoll told magistrates that Punt had had a very "tragic life". At a hearing last year, Punt's solicitor Nigel Vaughan made a similar plea for leniency, saying his client required psychiatric help which she could not get from probation or in custody.

But after Punt was jailed while she was eight months pregnant, her parents, Leslie and Sandra said they welcomed the sentence. Leslie Punt said: "It might teach her some discipline." Her mother, Sandra said: "You can't do anything with. She gives us so much trouble."