Birmingham Teacher Couple Accused of Neglecting Homeschooled Son to Death
Two Birmingham teachers have been accused of gross negligence manslaughter and child cruelty after their 12-year-old homeschooled son died from untreated Type 1 diabetes, a court has heard. Damion Thomas, 48, and Tamara Thomas, 45, are standing trial at Birmingham Crown Court, where prosecutors detailed how they allegedly "did nothing" as their son Joshua lay dying at their Kings Heath home.
Untreated Diabetes Led to Fatal Collapse
Joshua Thomas collapsed at the family home on Yarningale Road, Kings Heath, on December 9, 2022, and died in the early hours of the following day at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The jury was told he suffered from undiagnosed and untreated Type 1 diabetes, which developed into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition requiring urgent medical intervention.
Prosecutor Miranda Moore KC stated that both parents should have recognized the warning signs of diabetes, particularly since Damion Thomas himself has Type 1 diabetes. "Diabetes was in the family," Ms. Moore emphasized to the court, noting that both defendants understood the dangers of untreated diabetes.
Critical Hours of Inaction
The prosecution detailed a timeline of alleged neglect beginning at 4 a.m. on December 9, when Joshua was too weak to reach the downstairs toilet and wet himself. Ms. Moore told the court: "He had to be changed, put back to bed and couldn't even walk downstairs. Both parents would have recognized what he was exhibiting at 4 a.m."
Despite these clear symptoms, neither parent sought medical assistance at this critical moment. Joshua remained on the sofa throughout the morning, with his mother believing he was asleep when he may have already slipped into a coma.
Tamara Thomas did not call emergency services until 12:43 p.m., after noticing Joshua's lips had turned white, foam was coming from his mouth, and his breathing had become faint. By this time, the court heard, Joshua had suffered cardiac arrest.
Parents' Actions Questioned
Ms. Moore questioned the parents' actions during Joshua's final hours. Damion Thomas had left for a work meeting at a Castle Bromwich campus at 2 p.m. on the day his son collapsed, despite knowing Joshua was seriously ill. The prosecutor stated: "Damion goes off to work, makes no checks on his son. Despite the number of times Tamara rang him, he didn't answer the phone."
When Tamara finally called Damion to report Joshua was unresponsive moments before calling an ambulance, Damion later told police he was unaware of the situation until he returned home and saw paramedics. Ms. Moore asked the jury: "What parent doesn't check on their sick child? What parent doesn't come home when their sick child is unresponsive?"
Background and Medical Distrust
The court heard that both defendants were certified teachers, though neither was "fully employed" at the time of Joshua's death. Damion Thomas had previously taught at Solihull Academy and held a safeguarding role, but was on a pathway to returning to work in December 2022.
Joshua, described as "lively and energetic," had joined Sparkhill Harriers running club in early 2022, where he was noted as "articulate, bright and fairly competitive." His parents claimed he had been ill with cold-like symptoms for approximately two weeks before his collapse.
Prosecutors suggested the defendants' failure to seek medical help stemmed from distrust of Birmingham Children's Hospital. Ms. Moore stated their attitude was to "avoid medical intervention for their family," despite Joshua showing clear symptoms including requests for sweet drinks, lethargy, and weight loss in the days leading to his death.
"The evidence shows he should have seen a doctor before his eventual collapse on December 9," Ms. Moore told the court. Both parents deny the charges of child cruelty and gross negligence manslaughter. The trial continues at Birmingham Crown Court.
