A woman has been sentenced to six years imprisonment after her three-month-old daughter died following prolonged exposure to a hairdryer, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.
Courtney Gartshore, 28, was convicted in July at the High Court in Aberdeen of culpable homicide in connection with the death of her daughter, Dahlia-Rose, who was found dead at a property in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in September 2023.
Judge describes case as uniquely disturbing
Sentencing, the judge described the matter as "uniquely disturbing and distressing" and said it was both "tragic as well as terrible", adding that Gartshore would have to live with the knowledge that she was responsible for her child's death. The judge said the actions represented a gross breach of parental duty.
"This was a gross breach of the most basic duty as a parent," the judge said.
The court heard evidence that the hairdryer had been applied to the infant's head and body for a prolonged period, resulting in burns covering approximately 18% of her body surface, chiefly to the head, neck, upper torso and one arm. Medical opinion given at trial identified the likely cause of death as a combination of hypothermia and heat stroke.
Courtroom details and defence points
Gartshore appeared by videolink for the 25-minute hearing and was reported to be visibly upset during the sentencing. Her defence counsel set out background material to the court, including a history of childhood trauma, ongoing mental health difficulties and prior incidents of self-harm and overdose. He said since her detention she had mostly been held in her cell for her own safety.
The defence maintained that Gartshore had no recollection of using the hairdryer on the baby and said that, while no convincing explanation could be put forward for why the appliance was used, it might have been applied recklessly as a source of warmth. The lawyer described the injuries as severe and disfiguring.
- Victim: Dahlia-Rose, aged three months
- Accused: Courtney Gartshore, 28
- Conviction: Culpable homicide (Scots law equivalent of manslaughter)
- Sentence: Six years' imprisonment
- Time of incident: September 2023
The jury at the High Court in Aberdeen convicted Gartshore after a trial held in July. Jurors were not shown photographs of the injuries, the court was told.
Wider implications and unanswered questions
The sentence and the facts as presented at trial will prompt questions about the intersections of mental health, parental responsibility and the safeguarding of infants. Defence submissions highlighted the mother's own traumatic background and health problems, but the court concluded those factors did not negate criminal responsibility for actions that led to the child's death.
Prosecutors and sentencing guidance in Scotland take account of the vulnerability of victims, particularly where very young children are harmed by a caregiver. The judge's comments emphasised both the gravity of the offence and the lifelong consequences for the offender of having caused the death of her child.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Sentence length | 6 years |
| Victim age | 3 months |
| Burns | Approx. 18% of body surface |
| Location of incident | Peterhead, Aberdeenshire |
The sentencing remarks and factual findings at trial set a clear record of what occurred, while defence material presented mitigating context about Gartshore's personal history. The case will be followed closely by child protection advocates and legal commentators considering how the criminal justice system addresses families affected by mental illness and trauma.
The family of the child and wider community in Peterhead were not reported to have made statements in court at the sentencing hearing.
Gartshore's conviction for culpable homicide — the Scottish law equivalent of manslaughter — is final and the six-year term reflects the court's balancing of aggravating factors, including the vulnerability of the victim and the prolonged nature of the conduct, with the mitigating material put before the judge.
