Joanne Jepson was born with a jaw defect herself

Reverend Joanne Jepson is seeking a legal review of West Mercia Police's failure to investigate the case of the termination of an unborn child which had a cleft palate, after the normal 24-week limit.

Miss Jepson, who was herself born with a jaw deformity, which was corrected with surgery, claims a cleft palate is not a sufficient reason for a late termination to be carried out.

She said: "West Mercia Police investigated the abortion of a baby with a cleft palate and decided it was perfectly legal within the legal remit.

'Physical perfection'

"However, the law stipulates that abortions after 24-weeks have to be for a major handicap.

I just find it reprehensible to think that we could lose our lives for something which is only about physical perfection Joanne Jepson

"I don't think many people would consider a cleft palate to be a major handicap."

The churchwoman - whose 25-year-old brother Alistair has Downs Syndrome, a condition sometimes used as a reason for carrying out late abortions - said the police had failed to take any action against the Hereford doctors who carried out the termination.

She said: "I just find it reprehensible to think that we could lose our lives for something which is only about physical perfection."