A 28-year-old National Health Service (NHS) nurse, Ruth Auta, has been sentenced to three years in prison for leaving her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele, unattended for eight hours while she worked a shift at Royal Bolton Hospital.
The tragic incident occurred on December 20, 2022, when Auta, a single mother, left Joshua alone in her nurse’s accommodation.
Upon returning from her shift, Auta found her baby unresponsive and immediately called emergency services.
Despite efforts to revive him, Joshua was pronounced dead at the scene. Medical examinations suggested that the infant may have overheated due to being wrapped in excessive clothing and bedding.
Initially, Auta provided false information to authorities, claiming she had picked up her son from a childminder after work and placed him on her bed before falling asleep.
However, CCTV footage revealed that Auta had left and returned to her accommodation alone, leading to charges of child cruelty.
In a desperate attempt to avoid prosecution, Auta tried to flee the UK to Nigeria in June 2024 but was arrested at Gatwick Airport. Throughout the investigation, Auta showed little remorse for her actions.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving young children unattended and the serious responsibilities parents must uphold, particularly those in caregiving professions.
The court noted the tragic irony that while Auta was responsible for caring for others during her shift, she neglected her own child, resulting in his untimely death.
