A woman who deliberately poisoned a toddler with insulin while the youngster was being treated in hospital has been jailed for four and a half years in her absence.

Amal Asiri, 29, and her husband Mohammed Asiri, 38, who is in the Saudi military, had been jointly accused of giving 'dangerous' amounts of artificial insulin to the child at a London children's hospital.

They had been on conditional bail when they disappeared a week before her trial at the Old Bailey.

Mrs Asiri, of Kensington, west London, was found guilty in her absence of child cruelty and administering a noxious substance so as to endanger life, but her husband was cleared of wrongdoing.

Asiri (left) and her husband Mohammed Asiri, 38, (right) were last seen by staff at the Saudi Arabian Embassy on 27 September and failed to turn up for trial at the Old Bailey three days later

On Monday, Judge Mark Lucraft QC sentenced Mrs Asiri to four and a half years in jail.

The judge said: 'It is a matter of great concern that the whereabouts of Mrs Asiri remains unknown.

'It is also of great concern that despite numerous requests, (the child's) current state of health is unknown to the court and her medical records have not been disclosed.'

He added that she had been 'placed in serious danger' because of the defendant's actions.

Jurors were told how the victim was admitted to Evelina Children's Hospital in London in February last year, having arrived from Saudi Arabia in a private air ambulance.

Over the next four weeks, she was repeatedly injected with insulin by Mrs Asiri despite not needing it, jurors heard.

Asiri and her husband Mohammed Asiri, 38, were last seen by staff at the Saudi Arabian Embassy on 27 September and failed to turn up for trial at the Old Bailey three days later

The effect was to reduce her blood sugar 'to dangerous levels', prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse QC had said.

Ms Whitehouse said the couple 'had access to insulin, they knew how and when to use it, and they knew what its effects were.'

She said evidence ruled out a 'rogue nurse' behind the poisoning as different nurses were working rotational shifts on the ward.

She stressed the dangers posed to a person when their blood sugar levels nose dive.

The barrister said: 'This is not a case where a rogue nurse was harming a patient.

'The signs of low blood sugar levels initially might be physical signs such as dizziness, weakness, sweating and hand tremors.

'If the blood sugars fall further there might be a change in behaviour: drowsiness, confusion, disorientation and aggression.

'If left untreated the person may become unconscious or suffer fits.

'If really prolonged and severe then permanent brain damage or death can occur.'

A doctor became concerned at the child's erratic blood sugar levels and sent samples for testing.

Insulin pens were found in the child's cubicle and at the defendant's London address, the court heard.

The court was told the Asiris were last seen attending a mosque the Friday before their trial was due to start.

The couple had been financially supported by the Saudi embassy during their stay in London.

No travel documents had been issued but their belongings were sent back to Saudi Arabia by courier.

The identity of the young child was protected by a court order because of her age.

Mrs Asiri, from Kensington, denied but was convicted of one charge of cruelty to a person under the age of 16 while her husband was cleared of the charge.

Amal Asiri alone also denied but was convicted of administering a poison or noxious substance to a child, so as to endanger life.

She was jailed in her absence for four and a half years on both counts concurrently.