Courtney Gartshore, aged 28, of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at the High Court in Edinburgh in August 2026 after being unanimously convicted of the culpable homicide of her three-month-old daughter, Dahlia-Rose.
The court heard that emergency services were summoned to a residential property in Peterhead in September 2023, where first responders discovered the infant deceased. Investigations revealed that Gartshore had consumed a significant volume of alcohol before using a hairdryer to subject the three-month-old child to sustained and severe heat, resulting in extensive burn injuries covering 18% of the baby’s body surface, including her head.
Police Scotland launched an immediate inquiry into the child’s death. Forensic examiners recovered the hairdryer from the premises, identifying the victim’s DNA on the appliance. Detectives also reviewed audio recordings of the emergency 999 call made by Gartshore, in which she claimed the infant had turned discoloured while sleeping.
Appearing for trial at the High Court in Aberdeen in July 2026, the defense argued that Gartshore had no recollection of utilizing the hairdryer and suggested the child may have passed away prior to the thermal injuries being inflicted. However, prosecutors established that Gartshore acted culpably and recklessly while having sole care and custody of the infant. The jury deliberated for just over one hour before returning a unanimous guilty verdict for culpable homicide.
During the sentencing hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Simon Collins KC described the circumstances as “uniquely disturbing and distressing” as well as “tragic and terrible,” emphasizing that Gartshore must bear the lifelong knowledge that her actions resulted in her child’s death.
On passing sentence, the judge ordered Gartshore to serve a custodial term of six years’ imprisonment for the offense.
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