The incident happened while Halliwell, 34, was staying with two friends at a luxury cottage in Hampshire, last month. The nanny is believed to have been hired from an agency while the singer looked for a permanent carer.
Scotland Yard yesterday confirmed that it had launched an investigation into 'an allegation of physical abuse against a three-month-old baby.' It said: 'Officers from our Child Abuse Investigations Unit are investigating and inquiries are continuing. There have been no arrests. We emphasise that the allegations of abuse are of a physical and not sexual nature.'
Halliwell gave birth to Bluebell in May but no longer has anything to do with the baby's father, Sacha Gervasi, a 40-year-old British born screenwriter who lives in Hollywood. The couple were introduced by Robbie Williams and soon embarked on a six-week affair during which Halliwell conceived. However, early on in the pregnancy, they had a bitter row and Halliwell refused to have anything more to do with him.
According to reports, Halliwell was 'absolutely hysterical' when she confronted the nanny.
'Bluebell is such a happy little girl and it broke Geri up to see her in such a state,' the News of the World quoted a friend as saying. '[Geri] could tell that this was not just a baby's tantrum, so she checked Bluebell and found bruising on her arm.
'It was the silence from the nanny that so alarmed Geri. It the nanny had explained there had been an accident, she maybe could have understood. Geri has barely let Bluebell out of her sight since the birth. Then when she finally leaves her with someone all hell breaks loose.'
Within days of being born, Bluebell was photographed for Hello! magazine in a deal which reportedly netted Halliwell a six-figure sum. A statement from Halliwell's personal assistant yesterday confirmed that the singer had visited a police station in London on August 18 to make the complaint. It went on: 'Bluebell is now happy and well, and there are no further concerns for her welfare.'
September 5 2006 |
