Norfolk man to be sentenced over forced abortion plot

Stuart Worby, 40, crushed up pills into a drink and sexually assaulted the woman in order to insert the drugs.

The woman suffered a miscarriage 15-weeks into her pregnancy in the summer of 2022.

Stuart Worby (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest) A trial at Norwich Crown Court heard Worby had researched abortion medications before sourcing abortion medication from a woman he persuaded to obtain them illegally by pretending they were for her at a doctor’s appointment. 

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Worby, of Malthouse Court, Dereham, is due to be sentenced on Friday, December 6, after being found guilty of sexual assault on August 3, 2022, and of administering a poison or using an instrument to procure a miscarriage between July 1 and August 5, 2022.

He will be sentenced alongside Neuza Cepeda, 39, of Walnut Drive, Dereham, who had already admitted supplying or procuring an instrument to be used with the intent to procure a miscarriage in connection with the case.

Wayne Finney, Cepeda's boyfriend, had been on trial alongside Worby but the 41-year-old of Station Street, Swaffham, was found not guilty of intentionally encouraging or assisting Worby.

Wayne Finney (Image: Newsquest) High Court Judge Joel Bennathan QC warned Worby he faces a jail term “in the years” when he and Cepeda are sentenced.

The trial heard that Worby had bought the tablets for £470 from a gynae centre in London on in July 2022.

Cepeda made a telephone appointment to the centre to say she was pregnant, already had a family, and wanted to have a termination.

She was then given the prescription and the pills were delivered. She then met up with Worby and Finney at the George Hotel in Dereham.

The trial heard Worby had given the woman some of the medication in a glass of orange juice before administering other drugs when he sexually assaulted her.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffered severe abdominal pain.

She attended the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and after enduring a number of hours of pain and blood loss, she suffered a miscarriage and had to have surgery.

The court heard she had wanted the pregnancy and had not knowingly taken the medication.

Following verdicts in the case police paid tribute to "the bravery of the victim who has endured the most terrible loss" adding her "courage to come forward and give evidence has been invaluable in ensuring a guilty verdict".