NURSERY WORKER KILLED A 14-MONTH-OLD BOY WHILE TRYING TO GET HIM TO SLEEP
A nursery worker has been jailed for 'corporate manslaughter' over the death of a 14-month-old boy who suffocated when he was wrapped in a sleeping bag and left for two hours.Noah Sibanda tragically died from asphyxiation at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley, West Midlands.
The youngster was wrapped in a sleeping bag, had a blanket placed over his head and was laid face down on a cushion.
Nursery practitioner Kimberley Cookson, 23, then put her knee on Noah’s back for seven minutes to stop him moving.
He was left swaddled and face down in a teepee for two hours before emergency crews were scrambled when staff noticed he was not breathing.
The tragic tot was rushed to hospital but sadly could not be saved and was declared dead shortly after.
Sickeningly, it was “normal practice” at the nursery for other children to face a similar ordeal.
Cookson has now been jailed for three years and four months after she pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter.
Fairytales Day Nursery Limited admitted one count of corporate manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.
It was today fined £240,000, as well as £56,000 in legal costs.
Director and business owner Deborah Latewood, 55, also admitted a Health and Safety at Work Act offence on the basis she did not know children were being put down to sleep in this dangerous way.
Noah’s mum Masi Sibanda said her son “died alone, scared and in pain” in a heartbreaking victim impact statement.
The mum continued: “Behind closed doors, they were playing Russian Roulette with our children.
“Last time I saw and held my child was in hospital, shortly after I was told nothing more could be done.
“He wouldn’t open his eyes when I whispered to him that it was time to go home.” Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the horror on December 9, 2022, was caught on CCTV.
The CPS said the incident, which was captured on CCTV at the nursery, saw Noah tightly wrapped in a sleeping bag with a blanket over his head and laid face down to sleep by Cookson.
Cookson was seen holding the toddler face down on a cushion and restraining him in what appeared to be an effort to “make him sleep when he did not want to”.
Inspectors at Ofsted previously closed the nursery in April 2023.
Alex Johnson, senior specialist prosecutor within the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, said: “This case has been deeply distressing and represents every parent’s worst nightmare whenever they leave their young child at a nursery.
“Noah Sibanda should have been safe in the care of professionals entrusted with his wellbeing.
“He lost his life as a result of reckless and dangerous sleeping practices which posed an obvious and serious risk of harm.
“The evidence in this case, including CCTV footage and expert medical findings, showed that Noah was placed to sleep in a way that severely restricted his ability to breathe and move.
“The prosecution case was that these practices created a suffocating environment, from which a 14-month-old child, was clearly unable to escape.
“Our thoughts remain with Noah’s family, who have endured an unimaginable loss.” —————————————————————————————————— A tragic incident at a nursery in Dudley has resulted in the death of a 14-month-old child, leading to serious legal charges against a staff member and the nursery's management.
Kimberley Cookson, aged 22, who was employed as a nursery practitioner at Fairytales Nursery, now faces a charge of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the child's death.
Details emerging from the investigation reveal that the nursery, which has since ceased operations, was under scrutiny for safety and operational standards.
The authorities have also charged the nursery itself with one count of corporate manslaughter, citing failures in maintaining a safe environment for the children in their care.
Additionally, the nursery is accused of neglecting its legal responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Deborah Latewood, aged 54, who was the director and owner of Fairytales Nursery, has been charged with one count of failing to comply with general duties under the same Act.
Her role as the business leader places her at the center of the legal proceedings, which aim to hold those responsible accountable for the tragic outcome.
The case is scheduled to be heard at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 13 May.
The defendants are expected to appear before the court to face these serious charges.
The incident has shocked the local community and raised concerns about childcare safety standards in the area, prompting calls for stricter oversight and review of nursery operations in Dudley.
UPDATE 10/06/2025 A 22-year-old nursery worker has admitted manslaughter after a 14-month old baby died in her care.
Kimberley Cookson pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligence manslaughter following the death of Noah Sibanda, who died after an incident at Dudley's Fairytales Day Nursery on December 9, 2022.
The youngster, who had not yet learned how to properly walk, was rushed to hospital but all attempts to save him were futile.
Latewood pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022.
A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of the firm which ran the now-closed nursery, based in Bourne Street, to one count of corporate manslaughter, including an alleged failure to ensure that children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way, failure to ensure that staff were adequately trained to put babies down to sleep and failure to ensure staff were adequately supervised while doing so.
The company also pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022.
Cookson and Latewood spoke only to confirm their date of birth and to enter their pleas in front of the courtroom.
Judge Michael Chambers KC said Latewood and the company would face a trial.
He said this would likely to be in 2026, but did not set a date.
Cookson will be sentenced upon conclusion of the trial, which is expected to last three weeks.
Both Cookson and Latewood were released on unconditional bail until the next hearing.
A pre-trial review hearing was set for December 5.
