obstetrician Zhang Shuxia, 55, was found guilty of stealing seven babies after telling their parents the

obstetrician Zhang Shuxia, 55, was found guilty of stealing seven babies after telling their parents the newborns were sick or had died - before selling the children to traffickers for £2,255 for females and £5,240 for males. Zhang was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, meaning that if she offends again in a similar way in that time she will be shot. The obstetrician was arrested after a young couple claimed their baby had been abducted in July last year. Police said that Zhang told them their son had caught hepatitis B and syphillis from them, yet doctors had told them they were free of both diseases. The couple were among the fortunate parents whose baby was returned to them. The court in Weinan city, in Fuping county, was told that six of the babies were recovered safely by police and returned to their parents - but one was found dead in a ditch, where it had been dumped by a trafficker for unknown reasons. It is believed Zhang sold many more children than the seven she was charged with stealing.