Woman sentenced for accidentally poisoning Neighbour aged 11

A woman who accidentally killed her 11-year-old neighbour with poisonous gas she used to exterminate bedbugs has received a suspended sentence.

Jesmin Akter imported aluminium phosphide from Italy without a licence on November 26, 2021, to deal with an infestation in her flat in Tower Hamlets.

She initially told police that she had purchased the substance in a shop but later admitted her mother had brought it to Italy from Bangladesh.

However, Akter failed to read the packaging.

The substance reacted with moisture creating the poisonous gas phosphine.

It seeped into a neighbouring flat.

Fatiha Sabrin woke at 4 am on December 11 complaining to her mother that she needed the toilet and was vomiting.

Her mother called her GP and 111 before phoning 999 at 9:30 am.

The 11-year-old was initially advised by paramedics to take diarrhoea medication and eat plain food.

London Fire Brigade checked for carbon dioxide poisoning but found nothing.

Meanwhile, other residents started coughing.

At 1:30 pm, Fatiha’s condition deteriorated.

Paramedics found she had stopped breathing and fallen unconscious at 3:30 pm and she died in hospital just before 5 pm.

The fire brigade declared a hazardous materials incident and further checks identified the poison.

Prosecutor James Dawes KC said phosphine was considered “on a par with chemical warfare agents” and children were particularly vulnerable to exposure.

The quantity used by Akter was nearly three times the amount recommended by the manufacturer in commercial warehouses and was not for use in dwellings.

Akter admitted manslaughter by committing an unlawful act and importing a regulated substance.

Judge Alexia Durran told Akter: “I am acutely aware no sentence I can impose will feel adequate to the family who have lost their beautiful young daughter.

“You brought the substance to the UK in your hand luggage.

“Had the packaging been damaged in flight you could have created a catastrophic mid-air incident putting hundreds of people at risk.

“You didn’t know how much of the substance you should use but used more than you thought you ought to use to ensure the infestation was dealt with.

“The landlord had taken some action but it appeared to be rather cursory and employees asked to carry out fumigation in the past did not appear to have been well trained or trained at all.

“In treating your flat on 11 December 2021 with aluminium you released phosphine gas in your flat which you intended to treat an infestation of beg bugs.

“The gas was released in lethal quantities and permeated through the flats. A number of residents were affected by toxic fumes and Fathia sadly died as a consequence.

“I know you are overwhelmed by crippling guilt from your actions and that has resulted in serious depression and anxiety.

“It is unlikely you will ever get over that what has happened to Fathia was as a result of your actions.”

“A young life full of promise has been lost.”

Mr Dawes said Akter had expressed “deep remorse” and attempted to help the victim not knowing she had caused her illness.

In a handwritten statement, Akter said she obtained the “anti-bedbug” product on her family’s advice but did not read the packaging.

She said she “did not know the produced contained a dangerous poison”, saying she was “desperate after the landlord tried and failed to get rid of the infestation”.

Akter apologised to Fatiha’s family who had “paid the price” for her actions.

The judge added: “Fatiha died on her 11th birthday. It is now a date that haunts her family.

“The sentence I impose will not bring Fatiha back and will seem inadequate to Fatiha’s family.”

Akter received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. She also received 150 hours of unpaid work.