A 24-year-old with Down’s syndrome is demanding an end to “downright discriminatory” abortion laws, as her landmark case begins at the High Court.

Heidi Carter is suing the government for allowing children with disabilities, including Down’s syndrome, to be aborted after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Mrs Carter, who has just celebrated her first wedding anniversary, says: “A baby like me can be aborted up to birth, that’s what I want to change.

“I don’t like to have to justify my existence, it makes me feel like I’m not as valuable as anyone else. It makes me feel like I shouldn’t be here.”

Abortions can take place in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales.

They must be approved by two doctors, who agree that having the baby would pose a greater risk to the physical or mental health of the woman than a termination.

After 24 weeks a woman can have an abortion if she is at risk of grave physical and mental injury, or there is a severe foetal abnormality, including Down’s syndrome.

Máire Lea-Wilson, another claimant in the case, says she was encouraged in hospital to abort her son.

Mrs Lea-Wilson says the last time she was offered an abortion was 2 days before Aidan was born, she says she felt the assumption was “that you would want to abort a child with Down’s syndrome”.

Mrs Lea-Wilson says: “I have two sons and I love and value them equally and I just can’t understand why the law doesn’t value them equally.

“If this law is still in place when he grows up what’s that going to do to his self-esteem?

“I really want him to grow up in a world where he is equally valued.”

The case being brought against the health secretary is seeking to change the 1967 Abortion Act to prevent terminations after 24 weeks for all non-fatal disabilities.

Paul Conrathe, a human rights barrister representing Mrs Carter and Mrs Lea-Wilson, told the court that people with Down’s syndrome live “happy and fulfilled lives” and it is “morally and ethically wrong to discriminate between the able-bodied and disabled”.

Mr Conrathe told the court the law is “based on outdated science and outdated law”.

The case is being backed by Bridget Jones actress Sally Phillips, whose son Olly has Down’s Syndrome.

Speaking to Sky News outside court, she said: “I’m here today because I’m a friend of Heidi’s. I think it’s a bold and courageous thing she’s doing and she needs our support.

“I am pro-choice, it’s not ok to force someone to have a baby they don’t want, but it’s also not ok to force someone not to have a baby through pressure. At the moment the system tells you it’s terrifying to have a child with Down’s syndrome.

“I really hope this case will push our ethical thinking forward.”

The case continues at the High Court.

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