MOTHER JAILED FOR MANSLAUGHTER AFTER SON SUFFERED FATAL ASTHMA ATTACK
A woman with a heroin and crack cocaine addiction has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter in the death of her seven-year-old son, Hakeem Hussain.The boy, who suffered from asthma, died alone and struggling for breath in a garden, as Coventry Crown Court was told during her trial.
Laura Heath, 40, formerly residing on Long Acre in Birmingham’s Nechells area, was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after her 'frail' child passed away while they were staying at a friend’s house.
Judge Mr Justice Dove characterised Hakeem’s death as the outcome of Heath’s 'catastrophic and deplorable' parenting.
He emphasised that her life had descended into chaos and drug dependency, which ultimately led to the tragic incident.
In his remarks, the judge noted that Hakeem, only seven, had represented happiness and love despite his short life, and his death cut short a potential for a joyful future.
The child succumbed after collapsing in the garden, clutching a leaf, with the court images revealing Heath’s drug habit spending around £55 daily had led her to alter her son’s inhaler with foil and elastic to smoke crack.
Heath admitted to four counts of child cruelty before her trial, including neglecting her son’s medical needs and exposing him to smoke from asthma triggers like heroin, crack, and cigarettes.
Court proceedings also revealed that a school nurse had warned Hakeem could 'die at the weekend' just days prior to his death, yet social workers meeting to protect him decided only to delay action until the Monday by which time Hakeem was already dead.
Two social workers rated his safety as 'zero' out of ten, highlighting missed opportunities to intervene.
Witnesses described the conditions in Heath’s home as 'disgusting,' with one noting that Hakeem had no bed and slept on a sofa, while others pointed out that Heath used her upstairs bedroom for sex work to fuel her addiction.
In the days before Hakeem’s death, Heath had been staying with Timothy Busk in a flat nearby, which was described as cluttered and smoky.
The night before her son’s death, Heath smoked three bags of heroin, passing out in a drug-induced sleep.
The following morning, her partner found Hakeem dead in the garden; Heath later told police that her son was outside, possibly fallen asleep after going out unwell.
Police searches uncovered drug paraphernalia and a used spacer among mouldering food and ashtrays in the home, indicating neglect and substance abuse played a role in the tragic outcome.
