Newham Council blamed for preventable death of five-year-old boy

During an inquest at Walthamstow Coroner’s Court, the mother of five-year-old Aalim Ahmed stated that his death was ‘preventable’. Ahmed died on May 16, 2024, after falling from a 15th-floor kitchen window at Jacobs House in Plaistow, east London.

Sahra Osman told the court she had repeatedly contacted Newham Council regarding safety concerns, including faulty window restrictors and outstanding repairs. She noted that Ahmed had autism and ‘no sense of danger’, making the top-floor flat particularly unsuitable. Osman claimed she was advised to move into the unit and lodge complaints later to avoid the risk of homelessness.

Osman testified that despite her efforts to flag the windows as an emergency, the council did not treat the matter with urgency. She described the bedroom window as being able to be left ‘just wide open’ and noted that previous attempts by workmen to fix the issues were unsuccessful. Newham Council stated it could not comment until the inquest concluded.