Foetus threatened with Asbo

Unborn ne'er-do-well off the streets

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 12th July 2005 10:25 GMT

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The good burghers of Burton-on-Trent can sleep sounder in their beds today after the local council threatened to slap an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) on an unborn baby.

UK tabloid the Mirror reports that mum-to-be Julie Brown received notification that unless her ne'er-do-well foetus stopped annoying neighbours by driving his scooter around the area, dire consequences would surely follow.

An exasperated Brown, 35, said: "It must be the first time an unborn child has been threatened with an Asbo before it's had a chance to do anything bad. I was angry because nobody came and checked and the letter was sent despite the fact we don't have a son yet, let alone one who causes trouble riding around on a scooter."

A council official admitted: "The letter appears to be an unfortunate mistake and we will be sending a written apology to the couple."

Little baby Dominic is due in September. In the meantime, we cannot help but feel that if the pre-natal tearaway had been issued with a biometric ID card upon conception, or subsequently RFID tagged in the womb, the mix-up would never have happened. Charles Clarke take notice. ®