A HOAX baby shower, fake pregnancy suit and an adoption claim preceded a newborn’s kidnapping as a young woman’s infatuation with being pregnant grew.

Nadene Faye Manukau-Togiavalu was working as a nanny for a family with a baby girl at their Epsom home in Auckland.

Her pregnancy delusion culminated with the kidnapping of the newborn.

Today details of Manukau-Togiavalu’s offending were heard in the High Court at Auckland as her co-offender and 18-year-old cousin Sydnee Shaunna Toulapapa pleaded guilty to kidnapping and burglary, reported The New Zealand Herald.

The court heard that Toulapapa had been coaxed into helping her co-accused, Manukau-Togiavalu, into taking the then 11-day-old baby from a home on Pah Rd in Epsom, Auckland’s wealthy eastern suburbs, in August last year.

Manukau-Togiavalu, 21, pleaded guilty yesterday in the Auckland District Court.

The High Court heard today that Manukau-Togiavalu had been staying at the home and working as a nanny.

On her third night at the house she arranged for Toulapapa to come and take the baby.

The court heard Manukau-Togiavalu had serious health issues and had a delusion that she had been pregnant.

Toulapapa’s lawyer Annabel Cresswell said Manukau-Togiavalu had fabricated a story that she had been forced to give up her baby for adoption and needed Toulapapa to help get the child back.

She then sought help from Toulapapa, who was holidaying from Australia at the time, to help get the child back.

Prior to the child being taken for some six hours, Manukau-Togiavalu staged a fake baby shower and wore a pregnancy suit, social media photos show.

It is understood Toulapapa and Manukau-Togiavalu are cousins.

Manukau-Togiavalu is the cousin of the late up-and-coming league star Luke Tipene who was killed by Vincent Skeen, and gave evidence at Skeen’s murder trial.

On August 9, about 80 police launched a major search after being told a small girl had been taken from an Epsom home about 7am.

The baby was found safe about six hours later.

Toulapapa will be sentenced next month, and a sentencing date for Manukau-Togiavalu is yet to be set.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said at the time of the kidnapping: “The baby’s parents are obviously very distraught and have been through a terrible ordeal and they are currently with their baby.

“This has been an extremely harrowing time for the new parents of a very young baby. We are relieved and thankful that the baby was not harmed and has been reunited with her parents.”