A Nigerian nurse living in the UK, Ruth Auta, has been sentenced to three years in prison after neglecting her 10-week-old baby, Joshua Akerele, resulting in his death. The 28-year-old mother left her infant alone in her accommodation for eight hours while she worked a shift at Royal Bolton Hospital on December 20, 2022. Upon returning, she found her son lifeless in his cot and called emergency services.
Despite efforts to revive Joshua, he died an hour after paramedics arrived. Tests suggested the baby had overheated due to being wrapped in too many layers of clothing and bedding.
Auta was charged with child cruelty, to which she pled guilty in May 2024. She was arrested at Gatwick Airport on June 6 while attempting to flee to Nigeria with a one-way ticket. CCTV footage and text messages revealed she had left her baby unattended, and further evidence contradicted her initial claims of care.
The court condemned Auta’s actions, with District Crown Prosecutor Sara Davie emphasizing that, as a nurse, she should have understood the risks of leaving her child alone. Auta’s attempt to flee justice further highlighted her lack of remorse.
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