Manchester, U.K. — In a case that has shocked the community and raised troubling questions about responsibility and care, Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old NHS nurse, has been sentenced to three years in prison for leaving her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele, unattended while she worked a shift, resulting in the baby’s death.
Auta, a single mother and nurse at Royal Bolton Hospital, left Joshua in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours on December 20, 2022, while she worked. When she returned, she found her son unresponsive in his cot. Despite her frantic call to emergency services and resuscitation efforts, Joshua was pronounced dead shortly after. Investigators believe that Joshua may have overheated due to excessive clothing and bedding.
Initially, Auta misled authorities, claiming that Joshua had been with a childminder while she was at work. However, CCTV footage captured her leaving and returning to her residence without the baby, and text messages revealed she had asked her childminder to lie about caring for Joshua that day. The childminder confirmed she hadn’t seen the baby in days.
Auta was arrested, charged with cruelty to a child, and subsequently pled guilty in Manchester Magistrates’ Court in May 2024. A month later, as her sentencing approached, she attempted to flee the country, purchasing a one-way ticket to Nigeria. She was apprehended at Gatwick Airport before boarding.
Appearing in Bolton Crown Court on September 10, Auta was sentenced to three years in prison. In her role as a healthcare professional, she had cared for others but tragically failed to care for her own child, a point highlighted by prosecutors.
Sara Davie, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said, “As a nurse, she should have known the dangers of leaving her baby unattended. As she begins her sentence, she must now live with the consequences of the terrible decision she made that day.”
Joshua, described as a healthy baby, died under unclear circumstances. Experts have been unable to determine the exact cause of death. An inquest into the incident was opened and adjourned in January 2024.
The case has left many shocked and grieving. In a statement, prosecutors emphasized Auta’s lack of remorse and her attempts to evade responsibility by misleading investigators and fleeing the country. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those who have been affected by Joshua’s death,” said Davie.
This tragedy has not only left a community heartbroken but also serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of parental responsibility, particularly for those entrusted with the care of others.
