A Nigerian nurse, Ruth Auta, working in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for leaving her 10-week-old baby alone in her apartment.
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The 28-year-old had reportedly left the baby, Joshua Akerele, unattended and went to work an eight-hour shift at Royal Bolton Hospital on December 20, 2022.
She found him unresponsive in his cot when she returned and called emergency services. Tests revealed he may have died due to excessive heat due to being wrapped in different layers of clothes.
She initially claimed she had picked Joshua up from a childminder after her shift, fed him, and found him unresponsive the next morning.
However, police investigations revealed CCTV footage of her leaving and returning to her accommodation without her child. Further investigation uncovered incriminating text messages where she urged the childminder to lie about caring for Joshua.
She pled guilty to charges of cruelty to a child and attempted to flee the UK for Nigeria after the charge was brought, but was detained at Gatwick Airport.
Giving her judgement, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, Sara Davie, stated, “Ruth Auta failed to provide the care her baby needed and chose to leave him alone.
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“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.”
She was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Bolton Crown Court.
