A woman who fatally poisoned a girl with bedbug pesticide has been spared imprisonment.

A woman who accidentally caused the death of an 11-year-old neighbor by releasing poisonous gas while trying to eliminate bedbugs has been spared prison by a judge at the Old Bailey.

Jesmin Akter, 34, imported aluminium phosphide from Italy without authorization to address a bedbug problem in her Shadwell, Tower Hamlets flat in east London. She failed to read the safety instructions and spread a dangerous amount of the substance throughout her home before leaving her family away for 24 hours.

The gas, which is generated when aluminium phosphide reacts with moisture, seeped into a neighboring flat, resulting in the death of Fatiha Sabrin on her birthday and hospitalizing another child in December 2021. The gas, phosphine, is known for its extreme toxicity and has been compared to chemical warfare agents.

Akter pleaded guilty to manslaughter through an unlawful act and to importing a controlled substance. She was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.

Judge Alexia Durran acknowledged the bedbug issue in Akter’s building and criticized the landlord’s inadequate pest control measures. The judge also highlighted the potential danger of Akter’s decision to bring the chemical on a passenger flight from Italy, which could have led to a serious mid-air incident if the packaging had been compromised.

The judge referred to a poignant statement from Fatiha’s father, Mohammed Islam, who described his daughter as an extraordinary and helpful child. Judge Durran remarked that the sentence would not undo the loss or fully address the family’s grief. She noted Akter’s genuine remorse and acknowledged the severity of her actions, which resulted in the loss of a promising young life.

Fatiha had complained of vomiting and needed the toilet early on December 11. Despite initial medical advice and checks, her condition worsened, and she passed away in the hospital later that day. The phosphine gas levels in her home were found to be between 2.5 and 26 times the lethal dose, and Akter had used nearly three times the recommended amount for home use, which was meant only for commercial settings.