Single Mother Who Tried To ‘Secretly’ Leave UK For Nigeria After The Death Of Her 10-Week -Old Baby Gets 3-Year Sentence

A 28-year-old single mother, Ruth Auta, got a three-year sentence when she appeared at Bolton Crown Court, United Kingdom on Tuesday.

She was accused of abandoning her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele, at her residence for eight hours on December 20, 2022.

Ruth, a nurse, had done this in order to meet up with her work shift schedule.

The convict, a Nigerian, had returned to her room, found Joshua lifeless in his cot and dialled 999, telling the operators that her son was no longer breathing.

Joshua was later declared dead, but tests showed that the layers of clothing and bedding he was wrapped in may have made him get exposed to heat exhaustion.

Though Auta had told  the police that she had picked up Joshua from a childminder after leaving her workplace , took him home, fed him, placed him on her bed and then fell asleep next to him.

Auta also claimed that when she woke up, she found Joshua unresponsive.

While being questioned, Auta  had reportedly failed to respond to questions and was therefore released  on bail pending further investigation.

 Auta was however seen on CCTV leave and enter her residence without Joshua on the day the incident happened while officers also discovered incriminating texts in which she had urged her childminder to say that she was looking after Joshua that day but the childminder in question told the police that she had not seen the baby for a number of days.

Auta , who was charged with cruelty to a child and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ court on May 24, 2024, but was awaiting sentence, however tried to secretly leave the United Kingdom for Nigeria on June 6.

The nurse, who worked at Royal Bolton Hospital , had bought a one-way ticket  and she  was  detained at Gatwick while attempting to board the flight .

: ‘Whilst she went to work to provide care for other people, Ruth Auta left the very person who needed her care the most at home alone.

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.

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’ , Sara Davie, who is the District Crown Prosecutor for CPS Northwest, said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you