Mother Convicted in Tragic Death of Son from Undiagnosed Diabetes
A mother has been found guilty of unlawfully killing her 12-year-old son, who died from undiagnosed and untreated diabetes after she believed he was merely asleep on the sofa. The tragic case unfolded at Birmingham Crown Court, where Tamara Thomas, 45, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter following a trial that concluded on Tuesday, March 24.
Fatal Collapse in Kings Heath Home
Joshua Thomas collapsed at his family home on Yarningale Road in Kings Heath on December 9, 2022. He was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital but never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead in the early hours of December 10. The court heard that Joshua had likely slipped into a diabetic coma, a condition his mother mistook for sleep.
Tamara Thomas, a qualified teacher, told police she thought her son was asleep as he lay on the sofa. In reality, Joshua was suffering from severe brain damage due to cardiac arrest caused by diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication of untreated Type 1 diabetes that requires urgent medical intervention.
Family Background and Warning Signs
Prosecutors argued that the parents should have recognized the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes, as it was "in the family"—Damion Thomas, Joshua's father and also a teacher at Solihull Academy, has the condition himself. Joshua was described as a lively and energetic boy who was a member of the Sparkhill Harriers running club.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Joshua exhibited symptoms including lethargy, visible weight loss, and requests for sweet drinks. On the morning of December 9, at 4 a.m., he was too weak to reach the downstairs bathroom due to ongoing renovations, and his father helped him back to bed before leaving for work.
Court Proceedings and Verdicts
The jury deliberated for nearly 23 hours over several days before reaching their verdicts. Damion Thomas, 48, was found not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of an alternative charge of child cruelty. Both parents, who have since moved to London, were bailed ahead of a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 19.
Joshua was one of seven children in the family at the time of his death. His mother, who was home-schooling the younger children, called emergency services at 12:43 p.m. after noticing his lips had turned white and his breathing had become faint. She claimed the original plan was for her husband to take Joshua to the hospital upon returning from work, as she does not drive.
Expert Testimony and Parental Accounts
Medical experts concluded that Joshua's untreated and undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes led to DKA, which proved fatal. Damion Thomas testified during the trial, stating he believed his son was ill with a cold, winter bug, or flu. He expressed concern after seeing Joshua's condition at 4 a.m. but felt it did not require "emergency level" treatment at that stage.
Tamara Thomas chose not to take the witness stand. However, after her arrest, she told police that Joshua had not spoken or responded to anyone throughout the latter part of the morning on December 9, yet she assumed he was simply asleep. The case highlights the critical importance of recognizing diabetes symptoms and seeking timely medical care.
