Influencer who ‘drugged baby for donations and followers’ charged with torture
An Australian influencer has been charged with torture, after allegedly drugging a baby then filming her for donations and followers.
The 34-year-old, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, is accused of giving the youngster unauthorised prescription and pharmacy medicines from August to October last year.
She then filmed the baby in ‘immense distress and pain’ and posted the footage online to ‘entice monetary donations’, it’s alleged.
The woman, who has not been named, is accused of raising $60,000 (£30,500) through GoFundMe donations.
The child was initially treated in hospital for a genuine serious health reason, say Brisbane Police.
It’s then alleged the woman disregarded medical advice and ‘went to lengths to obtain unauthorised medicines’, which included old medications prescribed to another person in the home, and administered them to the infant.
Health professionals raised concerns after the girl was admitted to Brisbane Hospital in October suffering a serious medical episode.
A police investigation was launched soon after and the woman was arrested in the Brisbane suburb of Underwood on Thursday morning.
She was charged with five counts of administering poison with intent to harm, three counts of preparation to commit crimes with dangerous things, and one count each of torture, making child exploitation material and fraud.
In a statement, police said: ‘While the child was being subject to immense distress and pain, it is alleged the woman filmed and posted videos of the child.
‘It is alleged the content produced exploited the child and was used to entice monetary donations and online followers.’
Police have said the baby is known to her, but would not confirm if it was her daughter.
Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said offences of the nature alleged were abhorrent.
He added: ‘We are too often faced with the worst offences against children.
‘We will do everything in our power to remove that child from harm’s way and hold any offender to account.’
The woman was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
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