A husband and wife have been arrested for allegedly stealing a baby from a clinic and passing it off as their own after a fake pregnancy.
Rosa and Aqua Vespa are accused of pinching the newborn tot.
Shocking CCTV footage showed a woman carrying the baby down a corridor and put her in a pram.
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It’s alleged the couple planned the abduction because Vespa, 51, couldn’t have children of her own.
She was wearing a mask when she entered the maternity ward yesterday (21 Jan) evening and took day-old Sofia Cavoto off her mother.
It’s believed she told Valeria Chiappetta that she was a nurse and that the paediatrician needed to examine the newborn.
Valeria raised the alarm after half an hour went by and the “nurse” still hadn’t returned with her daughter.
After reviewing the CCTV footage, the police were able to stop the couple in their car about three hours later.
When officers went to search their flat in Castrolibero, Italy, they found a celebration, complete with a banquet, in full swing.
Unsuspecting relatives were there waiting for the couple to return home with what they thought was their son.
Vespa had been pretending to be pregnant for months and had told her family she was expecting a boy.
Earlier this month, she had written on social media: “After a long wait, our miracle has arrived. Ansel is here.”
The flat was decked out in blue and the couple had dressed the little girl in the same colour.
The truth emerged as Vespa and her Senegalese husband, 43, were questioned at the police station.
They were remanded into custody and the baby was returned to her relieved parents at the clinic in Cosenza, as reported by Need To Know.
Spokesperson Saverio Greco said: “Fortunately, the surveillance system worked, allowing the police to track down the culprits quickly.
“Relatives of the babies come into the clinic to bring sweets and gifts, and we don’t ask for ID from everyone.
“In fact, we’re often accused of being too strict with our checks.
“It’s been a tough day, and what happened will make us reconsider how we manage entry in the future.”
Valeria said “The police did an amazing job while I had lost all hope.
“An entire city, or rather, an entire region, came to a halt to search for our little girl.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get over this, but the happy ending is that Sofia is fine.”
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