Bethany Cox - a 22-year-old woman - has pleaded not guilty of child destruction and using misoprostol to cause her own miscarriage.
She denies she took a drug with an intent to destroy the life of a child as the first lockdown restrictions were easing.
The second offence was taking a poison with intent to cause her own miscarriage in early July 2020.
Ads
According to reports, the public gallery in the courtroom was almost full for the 15-minute hearing and Bethany Cox was followed into court by supporters.
She is one of the recent cases of women who are going to court over abortions.
With these cases in mind the Crown Prosecution Service - the people who bring these charges - have been described as taking an “aggressive” approach to women suspected of illegally aborting pregnancies.
Abortion isn’t completely legal in the UK - it’s only allowed under specific conditions.
Ads
In the last 160 years there’s been three trials. But in the last eight months there have been four charges.
Bethany Cox will face a seven-day trial starting on January 15, 2024 and has been granted unconditional bail in the meantime.
If she is found guilty, the charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.