Inside the mind of a baby snatcher

PSYCHIATRIST Dr Connell is a fellow of the Hongkong College of Psychiatrists working towards a post-graduate degree in criminology at Hongkong University. He gave an insight into the psychological profile of a child abductor.

She is worried her boyfriend or husband is about to leave her, and to save the relationship she has either faked a pregnancy or suffered a phantom pregnancy, and told him he is the father. She is likely to have a history of psychological problems, and she will try to keep the baby forever.

This is the frightening profile of the abductor, who has put time and thought into the arrival of ''her'' child, and is likely to slip back into her world with a baby without raising too much suspicion.

''Based on research into kidnapping, abduction and child stealing, abductors tend to fall into three categories: comforting, psychotic and manipulative offenders,'' Dr Connell said.

''This woman seems to fall into the category of a manipulative offender, because of the way she apparently planned the abduction. She was quite calm, and chatted to the woman in the next bed.

''She is likely to be worried that her boyfriend or husband is going to leave her, as these offences tend to occur against a background of an insecure relationship, and may pretend the baby is her partner's, in an attempt to influence his feelings and save the relationship.'' Before taking the baby, the woman may have deliberately simulated pregnancy or had a false pregnancy.