Tracy Menhinick, a 52-year-old woman from Aberdeen, has been sentenced to a seven-year prison term for poisoning a child with excessive amounts of laxatives and consenting to unnecessary surgeries, leading to the child’s long-term harm. The High Court in Glasgow delivered the verdict, concluding a case that detailed abuse over a three-year span from 2014 to 2017. During this period, Menhinick administered non-prescribed laxative lactulose to a boy, then aged between three and six, substantially impairing his development and mobility. As a result, the child experienced severe weight loss, diarrhoea, and required hospitalization.

Further complicating the situation, Menhinick consented to medical treatments knowing they were unwarranted, causing permanent disfigurement and impairment to the child. The case, which saw light in the High Court in Aberdeen before sentencing in Glasgow, unveiled the disturbing mistreatment and endangerment Menhinick subjected the child to, under her care. As a former NHS worker, her actions have been particularly highlighted for their severe impact on the young boy’s physical well-being. The identity of the child remains protected for legal reasons. The court’s decision reflects the grave nature of Menhinick’s offences and concludes a distressing chapter of sustained abuse and harm.