South Shields Woman Guilty of Dumping Soiled Nappies at Nurseries

A woman who identifies as an “adult baby diaper lover” has admitted to a string of disturbing offences involving children’s nurseries across South Tyneside, including smearing excrement and entering clinical waste bins “for comfort.”

Abbi Taylor, 46, of Newmarket Walk, South Shields — also listed in court records as Martin Tarling — appeared before Newcastle Crown Court, where she pleaded guilty to:-

-Three counts of dumping bags of nappies containing human waste

– Stealing clinical waste bags from nursery premises – Breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) issued by Nottinghamshire Magistrates’ Court .

Disturbing Incidents at NurseriesJane Foley, prosecuting, outlined a series of unsettling events:- Staff at a Cleadon nursery spotted Taylor climbing out of a waste bin in May 2023 –

In January 2023, a South Shields nursery staff member witnessed Taylor rummaging through clinical waste

At a Jarrow nursery, up to 50 soiled nappies were found dumped on-site, with excrement smeared on milk bottles and the fire escape Initially, some nurseries suspected sabotage by rival businesses due to the volume and nature of waste being left.

Pattern of Behaviour and Previous Offences

The court heard that Taylor has a long history of similar offences dating back to 2019.

A three-year Criminal Behaviour Order was imposed in April 2023 to prevent her from approaching nurseries after a previous conviction.

Taylor later admitted she entered the bins to “sleep and find comfort”, which her defence linked to age regression and trauma from earlier life.

Judge and Victim ReactionsRecorder Richard Herrmann commented:“It must have been absolutely horrifying to leave their children in that environment and go off to work.”

He acknowledged the psychological impact on both parents and nursery staff, noting that some staff felt so unsafe they would only go outside in pairs.

A nursery owner stated in a victim impact statement:“You never knew what you were going to find.”

Businesses were forced to spend extra on security improvements due to the repeated intrusions.

Defence: Trauma, Identity, and No Harm Intended

Nick Lane, defending, described the case as highly unusual and emphasised:- Taylor had no sexual interest in children – The acts stemmed from a coping mechanism related to childhood trauma – Taylor was assigned male at birth, has identified as female since at least 1993, and is in a supportive relationship with a woman.

Lane argued that incarceration could make Taylor vulnerable due to her gender identity.

Next StepsThe court has adjourned sentencing until Thursday, with Taylor released on conditional bail in the meantime.

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