Mum who murdered baby daughter and blamed other child jailed for life

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:02][screaming] >> The baby they gathered to remember was just 19 days old when she died.

[00:00:08]Thea Wilson was murdered by her mother, Nicole Blaine, who was found guilty last month, is now beginning a life sentence.

[00:00:16]>> This whole three years has been a nightmare when the verdict was called out.

[00:00:21]It was like we were living that that day again as you told us and as a community it broke every single person.

[00:00:25]>> Those who released balloons included some who say they knew the 30-year-old and they initially rallied to support her in her grief before learning the brutal reality.

[00:00:36]>> I wish I could have done more at the time. I've got regrets of my own.

[00:00:39]But there's nothing nothing else we could have done apart from give Thea a birthday. That's all we can give her.

[00:00:44]>> We don't even want to talk about Nicole to be honest with you. Um it's about Thea.

[00:00:48]>> Thea would be three years old now.

[00:00:49]>> Coming up three years old. So we can't give her a birthday present. We can't give her a a happy birthday. We can't give her anything but we'll give her this today and that's >> Hopefully this is the start of her resting.

[00:00:59]>> After Thea's birth, Nicole Blaine claimed she'd been struggling to cope.

[00:01:04]On the morning of the 14th of July 2023, she said she'd woken up to find her daughter lying on the floor of her Greenock flat. She claimed the newborn had been dropped by another child.

[00:01:15]>> This is an unexpected tragedy that's happened.

[00:01:20]>> In social media posts and later in her own evidence to the jury, Blaine maintained the baby's death had been a tragic accident.

[00:01:27]>> This has been the worst thing I've ever been through in my life.

[00:01:31]Losing my baby and not being able to hold my baby till she knew because I don't want people to see me sad.

[00:01:37]>> Thea suffered injuries consistent with blunt force trauma and being violently shaken. Five pathologists told the trial they concluded that Nicole Blaine's version of events was very unlikely.

[00:01:50]The judge described the mother's claims as a feeble attempt to evade responsibility from her crimes. Blaine has been sentenced to a minimum of 19 years in prison.

[00:02:00]>> Rather than love, protection, and nurture, what Thea received from you was catastrophic, deadly violence.

[00:02:07]On the evidence, the jury decided that it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that in an act that was either wickedly intentional or wickedly reckless, you murdered a tiny, defenseless baby.

[00:02:20]It may be that you have struggled to accept and come to terms with the enormity and finality of what you did.

[00:02:28]Perhaps that will come in time. But as you stand here before the court, you have shown not a shred of remorse.

[00:02:36]>> The judge acknowledged perhaps the unthinkable nature of this crime was the main reason this trial attracted significant attention on social media.

[00:02:44]One of the posts widely shared was a gender reveal video showing Nicole Blane before Thea's birth. This clip was not shown during the trial. Some online content on this case has been described as grossly irresponsible by Lord Scott, who warned those mentioning court proceedings could face legal consequences. Nicole Blane's defense KC said an appeal has already been lodged against the conviction and the sentence.

[00:03:11]>> Victim impact statements from Thea's father and grandparents were read out in court. They described the trauma of a whole family who only 19 days before were overjoyed at the birth of the baby.

[00:03:23]The loss of Thea, they said, is a pain that is constant. It doesn't ease or fade.

[00:03:29]>> Ross Wilson says that losing Thea broke his heart and shattered his life.

[00:03:34]He describes being a dad as the most important thing in his life. Thea was a much wanted and loved grandchild. Laura speaks of the hopes and and dreams lost and the many milestones Thea will never reach. It is clear that Thea's short life greatly affected the entire family and that her untimely death has damaged them forever.

[00:03:54]>> Following the conviction, those who led the police investigation said this is a tragic case in which a baby has lost her life, and Nicole Blaine will now have to face the consequences of her actions.

[00:04:06]Sharon Fru, STV News, at the High Court in Glasgow.