NSW mum who put vape in baby’s mouth explains why she did it
A teenage mother from NSW who put a vape to her baby’s mouth has fled interstate after intense national backlash led to dozens of vile phone calls and death threats.
NSW
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A young mother who sparked national outrage after giving her baby son a puff on a vape says she is sorry for putting her child in danger and has learnt a ‘massive lesson’ from her mistake.
Annie Donovan, 16, was secretly filmed last week placing a vape up to the mouth of her 11-month-old son Lebron, while being egged on by friends in the background in a highly-distressing video.
A cloud of smoke can be seen exiting the young baby’s nose and mouth before he starts coughing.
Ms Donovan says what she did was a ‘silly joke’ in front of friends, and she didn’t realise someone in the room was filming her and would post it on social media.
“I wish I didn’t do it, but I never meant to hurt him. I would never hurt him,” she said.
Ms Donovan spoke to The Daily Telegraph and consented to being identified, saying she had learnt a lot from the incident.
Police confirmed they visited Ms Donovan’s home on the NSW Mid North Coast on Wednesday, a day after the video surfaced, and seized the vape which was non-nicotine.
No charges were laid and no further police action will be taken.
“It was just a silly joke, I put the vape up near him and I never thought he would grab it, I thought he‘d push it away,” Ms Donovan said.
“I’d never done it before...I don’t even smoke near him, I’m always careful of that stuff.”
Her mother Kristy Donovan said what her daughter did was wrong, and that she’s otherwise a good mum doing her best.
“It’s not easy for her, she’s 16 and she’s on her own, but I’ve been there since his birth and I’m helping her. She’s trying her best and she is a good mum,” Kristy said.
As she played with Lebron and tickled her giggling boy, Ms Donovan said the past week since the video went viral had been the worst of her life.
She said she had been subjected to dozens of death threats, violent messages and constant harassing calls.
“Imagine giving your baby a puff at the vape that’s f**kn putrid man , you need help sis,” someone posted on social media.
“DOCS !! Give me the baby, at least I will love and raise him/her right,” another person vented.
“This is one of the WORST things I’ve ever seen,” 2GB host Ben Fordham posted to his official Facebook page after the incident.
“The baby should be removed from the home immediately.”
“Wtf take the baby off her,” another commented.
Ms Donovan said she understood people would be outraged seeing the video, but the abuse she was getting was extreme.
“I know I did the wrong thing, but what people are saying to me and writing is full on, I don’t deserve that,” she said.
It comes after Ms Donovan hit back against her critics on social media last week.
“Every c*** got the hide to sit there and talk about me and my child, take a look in yas own backyard,” she wrote.
“You ain’t perfect either so keep that mouth going you ain’t scary, you’re nothing but bums.”
The mother and baby have gone interstate because Ms Donovan was so fearful for both their safety.
Police are now investigating the death threats made towards Ms Donovan.
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