A YOUNG mother has described a fight to keep custody of her baby following child abuse allegations as a ‘living nightmare’.

In April, Ashleigh Barden, 20, says she and partner Jai Coates, 19, were suspected of physically abusing their then two-month-old baby girl, Arya, after a GP at Bicester Health Centre identified what she thought was bruising of the face and jawline.

The marks, it later transpired, had been caused by an allergic reaction to formula milk.

Despite a previous assessment by a different GP that the lesions were not bruising, the new parents said they endured a tortuous two months as authorities launched a legal battle to take their baby away from them.

Miss Barden said she was forced into a ‘mother and baby’ placement, not allowed to be left alone with her daughter, while Mr Coates was limited to seeing Arya in a contact centre, under social worker supervision.

Miss Barden, who works in sales at Bicester Leisure Centre, said: “I just can’t put it into words; it was like a living nightmare as to how it made us feel as parents.

“The whole situation had affected the family drastically. I am now terrified to go to appointments on my own, in fear of being scrutinised and questioned for abuse.”

After a second GP visit, Arya was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, where she was examined under ‘child abuse guidelines’ and had a full skeletal x-ray, CT scans, eye tests and blood tests.

In June, Oxfordshire County Council took the case to court, where a judge granted an Interim Care Order (ICO), meaning Miss Barden was placed under 24/7 supervision.

However, Miss Barden said the case was dropped by social services the day Arya’s doctor confirmed in court that the marks he had seen in April were not, in fact, bruising.

Despite the vindication for Miss Barden and Mr Coates, they say their lives will be forever affected by the allegations made against them.

She added: “We have received no apology or explanation. Just a simple withdrawal from the court case and the local authority disappear.”

While acknowledging how important it is that authorities remain vigilant in spotting child abuse, Miss Barden, said she now hoped to raise awareness over milk allergies and the related symptoms.

She said: “We both fully understood their original concerns, as the photos of the marks looked horrendous, and we also understood why there are certain assessments in place to protect children.

“We would never say that these assessments are not necessary, for there are children out there that do need help in such a way.

“We believe professionals should look medically first when given a list of symptoms that a baby is having, and not go jumping to the conclusion of child abuse.”

An county council spokesman said: “We would very much welcome this mum’s feedback and invite her to get in touch with us, via our comments and complaints procedures.

“Speaking in general terms –rather than on this or any specific case – it’s the duty of any children’s social care providing council to take seriously and investigate any potential safeguarding issues.”