Teacher couple who 'did nothing' as their 12-year-old son lay dying from undiagnosed diabetes are jailed

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:31, 23 June 2026 | Updated: 13:35, 23 June 2026 The parents of a 12-year-old boy have been jailed over his 'entirely preventable' death from undiagnosed diabetes after they 'did nothing' as he lay dying. Tamara Thomas and Damion Thomas, who were both qualified teachers, did not take their homeschooled son Joshua to hospital or call for an ambulance when he fell desperately unwell at around 4am on December 9, 2022. Having collapsed at their home in Kings Heath, Birmingham, his parents still did not seek out help until hours later when their son's lips had turned white. The youngster subsequently died in Birmingham Children's Hospital. Tamara, 46, and Damion, 48, were described as 'loving, caring and devoted' to Joshua, as well as their six other children at the time. But Mrs Justice Cutts, sentencing them last Friday, condemned their 'we know best' attitude towards others trying to help as having tragic consequences. She added Joshua could have survived if they had called emergency services sooner. Tamara was sentenced to three years and nine months, having been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter following a trial. Damion received two years and nine months after being found guilty of an alternative offence of child cruelty. Justice Cutts said: 'This case is in every sense a tragedy. You were both people of good character. Not only have you got no previous conditions, but you also led good and industrious lives. You were both qualified teachers.' Damion Thomas, 48, was handed a prison term of two years and nine months after being found guilty of child cruelty; his wife Tamara, 46, was sentenced to three years and nine months, having been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter  Damion Thomas had worked at Solihull Academy while Tamara home-schooled their five youngest children. Justice Cutts continued: 'No doubt you dearly loved your children and were committed to caring for them. 'This is not a case this court so often sees of parents who didn't care and were deliberately cruel or who exposed their children to ongoing neglect.' She told the couple it was the 'fundamental responsibility of every parent to look after the health of their children and obtain medical assistance when required'. The judge added: 'I understand you had a large family and busy lives. That did not absolve you from that responsibility. 'You are both articulate and intelligent.  'It is difficult to understand how and why two bright and educated people who cared for their children refused to properly engage with or seek assistance of medical professionals when their welfare plainly required it.' Justice Cutts went on: 'You as a family were inward-looking, self-reliant and reluctant to look elsewhere for assistance. 'You were distrustful of others, perceiving slights when none existed and believing you knew best. 'You didn't seek help when it was obviously needed. 'You had a hostile attitude to those who tried to give it. 'That attitude had tragic consequences.' Damion was himself diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2018, which meant the couple were aware of the dangers and symptoms of the condition. Joshua was described as a 'gifted' child who attended extra weekend tuition in science and also trained at Sparkhill Harriers running club. He ultimately died from untreated and undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes, which led to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition which requires urgent treatment. Experts stated such deaths were unusual, because even if parents were unaware of the exact condition they would be expected to take their child to the doctor if they were 'clearly unwell'. Joshua had been ill days previously with cold-like symptoms. But a week or so before his death, his parents noticed he had been drinking more fluids, had become increasingly thirsty and was urinating more often. At 4am on December 9, 2022, he got up to go to the toilet but was unable to reach the bathroom on his own because of how weak he had become. Damion helped him and felt he might need to go to hospital later that day, while Tamara noticed how skinny he was when he lifted up his top. Ms Cutts said: 'By the jury's verdict, both of you were negligent in failing to obtain urgent medical assistance at that time.' She added: 'Had he been treated at this time, death could have been prevented.' Damion Thomas left to go to work at 7.30am. At 9am Joshua was helped downstairs and onto the sofa by a sibling. Tamara later told police she felt he needed to go hospital when her husband returned home from work. Ms Cutts said: 'You had every reason to be watching him closely. You didn't do anything about it. 'You didn't need to take him to hospital. I know you couldn't drive. 'You could and should have called an ambulance. 'Your eldest son was at home who could have cared for the other children while you went with Joshua. 'You failed to respond to the reality which was in plain sight. 'You were wanting to do things on your terms which suited you. 'Joshua's condition couldn't wait.' Tamara eventually called 999 at 12.43pm that day, but Joshua never regained consciousness and died in the city's children's hospital in the early hours of the following day. Justice Cutts added: 'I accept you were both distraught when he died. The truth is his death was entirely preventable.' But the judge acknowledged the couple were 'committed and devoted' to their children who were 'happy and thriving until they needed medical help'. The court heard their other dependent children had been removed and placed under the care of the local authority. That included their baby who Tamara was unknowingly pregnant with at the time of Joshua's death and has been born since. But following separate family court proceedings, another judge had recommended that the children be returned home in the summer, albeit under the council's responsibility and with a robust care plan in place. Gillian Jones KC, representing Damion Thomas, confirmed he had lost his home and job, and was struggling to obtain work. She stated he was remorseful and had made 'substantial steps forward' since. Ms Jones added: 'He was a nurturing and loving (father). He cared for Joshua greatly. 'It's without doubt he's devastated and without doubt he is going to live with the outcome of that judgement he made for the rest of his life.' The couple were pictured earlier this year during their trial at Birmingham Crown Court It was confirmed that Tamara Thomas, who did not give evidence at the trial, has since sacked her lawyers. Representing herself, she told the court: 'There is no doubt I loved my son and thought I was acting in his best interests. 'The conduct was a one-off. Prior to this, I had shown a great deal of diligence, ensuring the children received appropriate healthcare and professional support.' She denied having a 'don't care' attitude and recalled how she initially saved Joshua's life by giving him CPR. Tamara added she had already suffered from multiple implications of the case, including 'public shame and outrage' as well as the loss of her home. 'This in itself is a powerful deterrent,' she said. Following the sentencing West Midlands police lead investigator Vicki Harris 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. 'This has been an emotive investigation for everyone involved and this verdict is the result of more than three years work examining complex medical evidence.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.