Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old Nigerian nurse working in the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to three years in prison for neglect, following the tragic death of her ten-week-old baby, Joshua Akerele.
The incident occurred on December 20, 2022, when Auta left her infant son alone in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours while she completed her shift at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
Upon returning home, Auta discovered Joshua unresponsive in his cot and immediately called emergency services, reporting that her baby was not breathing.
Despite resuscitation efforts by paramedics, Joshua was pronounced dead an hour after their arrival. Medical tests suggested that the baby may have overheated due to excessive layers of clothing and bedding.
Auta was subsequently charged with cruelty to a child and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on May 24, 2024. During the investigation, it was revealed that Auta had lied about the circumstances surrounding Joshua’s death.
Although she initially told authorities that she had fed the baby and then fell asleep with him, CCTV footage showed Auta leaving and returning to her accommodation without Joshua, contradicting her story.
Further incriminating evidence came from text messages in which Auta instructed her childminder to falsely claim that she had been caring for Joshua on the day of the incident. The childminder later confirmed she had not seen the baby for several days.
On June 6, 2024, Auta was apprehended at Gatwick Airport while attempting to board a flight to Nigeria with a one-way ticket, further raising suspicions about her attempts to evade justice.
In her ruling, District Crown Prosecutor Sara Davie of CPS North West condemned Auta’s actions, stating, “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.”
The heartbreaking case has left many in shock, with calls for increased awareness about child safety and the responsibilities of caregivers.
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