Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old Nigerian nurse, has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for the death of her ten-week-old son, Joshua Akerele.
The prison sentence was passed at Bolton Crown Court in the UK.
On December 20, 2022, Auta, who was a single mother, left Joshua alone in her accommodation for 8 hours while she worked her shift. When she returned, she found the baby lifeless in his cot.
Despite her call to emergency services, Joshua was pronounced d3ad an hour later. Tests indicated that the infant may have overheated due to excessive layers of clothing and bedding.
Initially, Auta claimed she had picked up Joshua from a childminder, fed him, and laid him on her bed before falling asleep beside him. She alleged that she discovered him unresponsive upon waking.
However, CCTV footage revealed that Auta entered and exited her residence without Joshua on the day in question.
Furthermore, incriminating text messages showed she had instructed the childminder to falsely claim Joshua’s presence.
Auta’s claims were further disproven when the childminder testified that she had not seen Joshua for days. Auta, who worked at Royal Bolton Hospital, was subsequently charged with child cruelty.
She initially pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on May 24, 2024, and her sentencing was postponed for a month.
In a bid to evade justice, Auta attempted to flee the UK on June 6, purchasing a one-way ticket to Nigeria. She was apprehended at Gatwick Airport before her departure.
During the sentencing, Sara Davie, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, stated that Auta’s actions were a grave breach of her responsibilities as a nurse.
“While she went to work to care for others, Ruth Auta failed to care for the person who needed her the most. Her lack of remorse and attempt to flee the country highlight the severity of her negligence. Our thoughts are with those affected by Joshua’s death,” Davie stated.