Doctor convicted of trying to poison lover

A doctor has been found guilty of trying to poison his lover in an attempt to induce an abortion. Dr Edward Erin, 44, of west London, spiked the drinks of Bella Prowse, 33, after she became pregnant but refused a termination, the Old Bailey heard.

The married father-of-two, who worked at St Mary's Hospital in west London, had denied administering poison to procure a miscarriage. Miss Prowse gave birth to a healthy baby in September last year.

The jury found Erin guilty of two charges of attempting to administer poison, once in a cup of coffee from Starbucks and then in a glass of orange juice. Miss Prowse suspected the drinks had been spiked and took them to police.

Tests showed traces of the drug in Miss Prowse's body and a cup given to her by Erin. He was found not guilty on another charge of spiking a cup of tea. Judge Richard Hone told Erin: "A custodial sentence is virtually inevitable."