A Birmingham couple, Tamara and Damion Thomas, have been sentenced after their 12-year-old son, Joshua Thomas, died from untreated diabetic ketoacidosis in December 2022. Despite noticing his illness, the parents delayed contacting emergency services, leading to fatal complications. Joshua was admitted to the hospital on 9 December but sadly died the following day.
Parents Convicted For Neglect
Tamara and Damion Thomas were charged with gross negligence manslaughter and child neglect. Tamara was found guilty of both charges and sentenced to three years and nine months. Damion was cleared of manslaughter but convicted of neglect and given a two-year and nine-month prison term.
Warning Signs Overlooked
Joshua showed clear symptoms of severe diabetic ketoacidosis for several hours before collapsing. His mother only dialled 999 when she noticed his lips had turned white, indicating a critical condition.
Police Stress Preventability
Lead investigator Vicki Harris from West Midlands Police said: “Both parents were aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes and expert medical evidence showed their son’s death would have been preventable if medical attention had been sought earlier.” She described the investigation as emotive and the verdict the result of over three years examining complex medical evidence.
