A woman who was found slumped comatose over her baby fears she may never see her daughter again.

The former heroin addict, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court, where she was sentenced for wilful neglect of her child.

At an earlier hearing, magistrates had found her guilty after hearing how police had discovered her and her child in a flat in Park Wood, Maidstone, slumped "half in a fridge" on April 5 last year.

She admitted having consumed methadone, Valium and wine earlier that day. Capped and uncapped syringes were found in the kitchen, bedroom and living room, as well as blood-stained medical swabs.

Defence solicitor Fionagh Green told magistrates the mother was extremely remorseful.

She added: "As a result of this case her daughter has been taken away. She says you can't impose greater punishment than that."

Although the defendant had pursued action to contact her child she had been told she was unlikely to see her again, the court heard.

Magistrates sentenced the woman to a 90-day prison term, suspended for 18 months on Thursday.

Magistrates also imposed an 18-month supervision requirement and nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The Kent Messenger Group's attempts to have the defendant's identity revealed were dismissed by the court.