Parents convicted of son's 'preventable' death

A woman has been convicted of causing the death of her seriously ill son, while she and her husband have also been found guilty of child cruelty.

Tamara Thomas, formerly of Birmingham but now of London, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter following the death of son Joshua in 2022.

The 12-year-old showed symptoms of severe diabetic ketoacidosis, which should have been noticeable for hours, but Thomas only phoned emergency services after his lips turned white. Joshua later died in hospital.

Thomas and husband Damion were both convicted after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, although the jury cleared him of gross negligence manslaughter. The pair are due to be sentenced in June.

Both parents, who were then living in Yarningdale Road, Kings Heath, but had later moved to Tottenham Road, Hackney, were also found guilty of neglect relating to another child.

West Midlands Police investigator Vicki Harris described the inquiry as an "emotive investigation" and said both parents were aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes.

"Expert medical evidence showed their son's death would have been preventable if medical attention had been sought earlier," Harris said.

"This verdict is the result of more than three years work safeguarding other children and examining complex medical evidence."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.