A Nigerian nurse, Ruth Auta, has been sentenced to three years in prison in the UK for neglecting her ten-week-old baby, Joshua Akerele, who died while she was at work, according to Headlinenews.
The 28-year-old single mother reportedly left Joshua alone in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours on December 20, 2022, while she completed her shift. Upon returning, she found her son lifeless in his cot and called emergency services, reporting that he was not breathing.
Despite resuscitation efforts, the baby died an hour after paramedics arrived. Investigations revealed that Joshua may have overheated due to being excessively wrapped in layers of clothing and bedding. Auta, who worked at Royal Bolton Hospital, was charged with child cruelty and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on May 24, 2024. Her sentencing was delayed by a month.
Auta attempted to flee the UK on June 6, but was arrested at Gatwick Airport while trying to board a flight to Nigeria with a one-way ticket. She had initially told police that she had collected Joshua from a childminder, fed him, and fallen asleep with him, only to find him unresponsive later. However, CCTV footage and text messages contradicted her claims.
The footage showed Auta leaving and returning to her accommodation without the baby, and messages revealed she had instructed a childminder to lie about caring for Joshua that day. The childminder later confirmed she had not seen the baby for several days.
In her judgement, District Crown Prosecutor Sara Davie stated, “Ruth Auta failed to provide the care her baby needed and chose to leave him alone. As a nurse, she should have been aware of the dangers of leaving her child unattended. Her attempts to evade justice further demonstrate her lack of remorse.”
