In 2026, the Offender Database recorded the conviction of Tamara Thomas and Damion Thomas following the preventable death of their 12-year-old son, Joshua. Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court, West Midlands, in early 2026, Tamara Thomas was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter. Her husband, Damion Thomas—who lives with Type 1 diabetes himself—was found not guilty of manslaughter but was convicted of child cruelty. It was reported that Joshua died from untreated diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the family home in Kings Heath, Birmingham, in December 2022.
The investigation established that Joshua had been displaying severe symptoms of DKA for several hours, including extreme weakness and a constant thirst for sweet drinks. West Midlands Police reported that on the morning of December 9, 2022, Joshua was too weak to even walk to the toilet. The prosecution reported that despite the boy slipping into a diabetic coma on the sofa, his mother, Tamara, believed he was merely sleeping while she continued homeschooling other children in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that both parents, who are qualified teachers, possessed the knowledge to recognise the signs of diabetes, especially as the condition “was in the family.” Birmingham Crown Court, West Midlands, heard that expert medical evidence proved Joshua’s death was entirely preventable had medical attention been sought earlier. The investigation established that a 999 call was only placed at 12:43 pm—hours after the boy became unresponsive—once his lips had turned white and his breathing became faint.
Judge Francis Laird KC heard that the family’s upstairs bathroom was unavailable due to renovations, adding to the boy’s distress as he struggled with his illness. For their actions in Birmingham, both parents were also found guilty of neglect relating to another child. The judge noted that while Damion Thomas claimed he thought his son had a winter bug, he admitted being concerned at 4:00 am but failed to seek emergency treatment, opting instead to go to work and leave the child in a deteriorating state.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Tamara and Damion Thomas as of March 2026 was as follows:
- Conviction Date: Early 2026.
- Sentencing Date: Scheduled for June 2026.
- Tamara Thomas Conviction: Gross negligence manslaughter; Child neglect.
- Damion Thomas Conviction: Child cruelty; Child neglect.
- Professional Status: Both are qualified teachers; subject to permanent barring from the profession.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Birmingham Crown Court, following a West Midlands Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Manslaughter; Child cruelty; Wilful neglect of a child.
- Origin: Kings Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands.
Monitoring and Public Protection
The defendants are currently awaiting sentencing and are managed under high-priority safeguarding protocols within the West Midlands area. Due to the nature of their conduct in Kings Heath, which involved the slow and observable decline of a child’s health leading to death, their case is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that the more than three-year investigation involved complex medical evidence to ensure that other children in the household were effectively safeguarded from further neglect.
As confirmed offenders in a case involving the death of a minor, their details are logged on national databases used for vetting and barring. Authorities state that their behaviour demonstrated a catastrophic failure in their duty of care. Any future sentencing will likely include strict licensing conditions and permanent prohibition from working with children or in educational settings in Birmingham or elsewhere, to uphold the protection of the public and ensure no further children are placed at risk by their actions.
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