Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old Nigerian nurse in the UK, has been sentenced to three years in prison for the neglect of her ten-week-old baby, Joshua Akerele, who tragically died while she was on duty.
Auta left Joshua unattended in her nurse’s residence for eight hours to work her shift, only to return and find him lifeless in his cot.
Despite her emergency call, Joshua could not be revived, with investigations pointing to overheating possibly caused by excessive clothing and bedding layers.
Auta, employed at Royal Bolton Hospital, faced charges of child cruelty and eventually pled guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court in May 2024, with her sentencing delayed until June.
Her attempt to leave for Nigeria was halted when she was apprehended at Gatwick Airport with a one-way ticket.
Initial claims of collecting Joshua from a childminder and falling asleep with him were refuted by CCTV footage showing otherwise, along with incriminating text messages instructing the childminder to lie about caring for Joshua that day, a statement later confirmed by the childminder.
Sara Davie, the District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, stressed Auta’s failure to provide the necessary care for her baby and her decision to leave him unattended, leading to the tragic outcome.
“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.”
