UK Court Sentences Nigerian NHS Nurse to 3 Years in Prison for Negligence Leading to the Dêath of her 10-week-old Baby
A UK-based Nigerian nurse, Ruth Auta, who left her 10-week-old baby to die while she went to work has been jailed for three years.
Ruth, aged 28, abandoned Joshua Akerele in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours so she could work her shift at Royal Bolton Hospital. The incident happened on December 20, 2022.
When she returned to her room, she found Joshua lifeless in his cot and dialled 999, telling operators her son was not breathing.
The single mother initially told the police that she had collected Joshua from a childminder after she had finished work. She took him back home, fed him, placed him on her bed and then fell asleep next to him.
She claimed that when she woke up, she found him unresponsive.
However, Auta was later charged after police found CCTV of her leaving and entering her accommodation without Joshua on the day of the incident
Also, officers discovered incriminating texts. She had urged her childminder to say she was looking after Joshua that day.
But the childminder told officers she had not seen the infant for a number of days.
Auta was charged with cruelty to a child and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ court on May 24, 2024. Her case was then adjourned by a month for sentence.
By June 6, the Nigerian nurse tried to flee the country. She was detained at Gatwick while attempting to board the flight home to Nigeria. She had purchased a one-way ticket.
Auta was sentenced to three years in jail when she appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday.
Sara Davie, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Whilst she went to work to provide care for other people, Ruth Auta left the very person who needed her care the most home alone.”
“Auta has failed to show remorse throughout the case. She misled police about her childcare arrangements and then tried to evade justice by attempting to flee the country.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those who been affected by Joshua’s death.”
