by Julia Roberts

A depressed mother who drowned her 11-year-old son as she faced financial ruin will remain in hospital indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

Jennifer Taylor was said to have adored her only child, James, a pupil at Wilmington Grammar School in Dartford. She killed him at their home in Knights Croft, New Ash Green.

Taylor, 45, who could not face being in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court to hear the harrowing facts of the case, also tried to kill herself.

Judge Andrew Patience QC was told Taylor owed almost £290,000 in mortgage, loans and credit cards had only £360 in her bank account.

Two months before she killed James she had been researching the Internet, using search words such as "Will God forgive for killing a young child?" and "Taking a child through suicide".

Taylor denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The court heard three psychiatrists had all "conclusively" indicated that Taylor was at the time, and still is, suffering from a severe depressive illness.

Taylor appeared calm and composed as Judge Patience told her he was making a hospital order with restriction order without limit of time.

Flanked by two members of staff from the Trevor Gibbens psychiatric unit in Maidstone where she has spent the last nine months, Taylor simply nodded and replied: "Thank you."

She was brought into court after the judge had made his sentencing remarks about what he called "an appalling human tragedy".

"The life of a happy, bright and talented boy was wasted; a life of promise never to be fulfilled," he said.

The single mum called the emergency services on December 2 after spending two days in the bath with James's body. Traces of anti-depressants were found in his body.

Taylor had also taken an overdose and after vomiting inflicted multiple stab and puncture wounds on herself.

She later told police that on November 30 James, who was suffering from a cold, had asked for a bath to clear his chest. He was playing a game to see how long he could hold his breath under water and she then held him under.