A woman who abducted a young child after social services raised concerns has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Mariana-mirabela Neagu, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday afternoon (January 6) after being charged with one count of child abduction.

The 26-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to taking the child to Romania from Dover on September 22 last year after social services had raised concerns over the care of the child.

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Once in Romania, Neagu left the child with a boyfriend she met whilst there and travelled back to the UK. However, the man then left the child outside an orphanage.

The child remains in Romania while discussions take place between Oxfordshire child social services and the Romanian authorities about whether the child can return to the UK.

Sentencing Neagu, Judge Nigel Daly told the court that it was an ‘extraordinary proposition’ by counsel that no harm had come to the child.

“It was suggested on the last occasion that there had been no harm to child,” he said. “I found that an extraordinary proposition.

“The taking of a child, taking [them] to Romania, dumping [them] on some sort of boyfriend and then it finishing up in the care of the Romania authorities, possibly in an orphanage.

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“I don’t see how there cannot be caused harm to that child. Now, efforts are being made to return that child to the country.

“Whether they will be successful or not, I don’t know.”

The court heard that the sentencing had been opened previously in court last month.

However, the sentencing was delayed by Judge Daly who had questions about how the family courts were dealing with the baby and its care.

He was told on Monday that ‘ultimately that will be a matter for the Oxford and Romania Family Courts’ but there is ‘no resistance’ to the baby returning to the jurisdiction.

Judge Daly handed Neagu, of Fern Hill, Oxford, a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

She will also need to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days. There was no order for unpaid work as it was suggested that Neagu had a job offer from the BMW factory in Cowley.

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 Her case will be reviewed at Oxford Crown Court every three months.

The defendant, who was wearing a black jumper, could be seen crying in the dock whilst the sentence was delivered.

 “I hope you can live a law-abiding life in this country,” concluded Judge Daly. “Breach any of those [orders] and you will be immediately sent to prison.”

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