A RUNAWAY Essex mum has slammed social services for “forcibly removing” a baby from its mother’s womb.

Michelle Kelly, 28, who fled to Scotland to stop social workers taking her child, waded into the row engulfing Essex County Council yesterday.

Essex social workers have come under fire after they btained a High Court order to deliver a 35-year-old Italian woman’s baby by Caesarean section last August because of “risks to mother and child”.

The woman, who was training for an airline job at Stansted Airport, had been under the care of a health trust for two months after suffering a mental breakdown, but the order was still granted by Judge Roderick Newton, who ruled the baby girl should be put up for adoption.

Miss Kelly, from Laindon, fled with her year-old son when the same judge granted Essex social services an order to take him into care.

She was tracked down by police and arrested for keeping a child away from their responsible person, and handed a 12-month community order.

Miss Kelly is now appealing to the Royal Courts of Justice to stop her son being put up for adoption.

She said: “When I heard about the case, I couldn’t believe it. It’s sick to do that. Not only was she mentally unstable, but she had also been sedated. It’s just wrong.

“I would say to anyone dealing with social services to keep a record of everything, because they will use anything against you.

“The solicitor handling my appeal told me about this woman because it’s the same judge who took my little boy away from me.

“I’m hoping this will stand in my favour, because it shows he is too harsh and makes really bad decisions.”

The country’s top family court judge, Sir James Munby, president of the FamilyDivision of the High Court, also wants more answers on the case and said any further adoption proceedings should be heard before him.

The council claims social workers spoke to family members in Italy before they decided to put the girl up for adoption.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “The long-term safety and well-being of children is always Essex County Council’s priority.

Adoption is never considered until we have exhausted all other options and is never pursued lightly.”