A Willesden woman who tried to smuggle a newborn baby into the UK by pretending he was her son has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Rose Oviebo, of Essex Road, claimed to have given birth to the tot in Nigeria after visiting a ‘traditional herbal clinic’ which helped her to conceive.

The 48-year-old paid £1,000 for the medication in Nigeria before returning to the UK.

She made several trips back to Nigeria where she ‘gave birth’ five days after her arrival May.

The following month she attempted to apply for a passport for the boy at the British High Commission in Nigeria but was unable to provide any documented evidence such as ante-natal or delivery notes.

When pushed for evidence Oviebo produced a CD-Rom of the “labour” which showed her on a bed with a newborn baby positioned between her legs.

There was no sign that she had recently given birth to the child and a second woman was shown holding the umbilical cord aloft in what appeared to be a staged event.

Oviebo left the baby in the care of relatives while she flew back to the UK pending the results of a DNA test which showed no relationship between her and the baby.

A second test undertaken on her demand also proved negative.

She was arrested at her home and charged with facilitating a child into the country.

Last week at Harrow Crown Court she pleaded guilty and was given a 12 month jail term suspended for 12 months.