Fairytales Day Nursery admits corporate manslaughter over death of 14-month-old

A private nursery has admitted corporate manslaughter following the death of a 14-month-old boy who was suffocated while staff attempted to make him fall asleep.

Fairytales Day Nursery pleaded guilty to the charge today at Wolverhampton Crown Court, alongside a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. The prosecution follows the death of Noah Sibanda on 9 December 2022.

Details of the Incident

The court heard that the toddler died after being physically restrained face down on a soft cushion with a blanket over his head. CCTV footage from the nursery showed Noah was tightly wrapped in a sleeping bag and laid face down by a practitioner.

Evidence revealed the child was held in place with a leg used to restrain him for a considerable duration. It was eventually noticed that the 14-month-old was not breathing. Emergency services were called, but Noah was tragically pronounced dead at the hospital.

Individual Admissions and Responsibilities

Nursery practitioner Kimberley Cookson, 23, of Dudley, previously pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter regarding her conduct in making Noah sleep.

The nursery’s director and business owner, Deborah Latewood, 55, also admitted an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Her plea was entered on the basis that while she did not know children were being put down to sleep in this manner, she should have known.

Prosecution Statement

Alex Johnson, Senior Specialist Prosecutor within the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) Special Crime Division, described the case as "deeply distressing."

He stated:

“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.

“Fairytales Day Nursery Limited has now accepted criminal responsibility for the systemic failures that led to this tragedy, and Deborah Latewood has also acknowledged that the failings occurred under her management and oversight.”

Mr Johnson added that the prosecution case established that these practices created a "suffocating environment" from which a child of Noah's age was unable to escape.

Fairytales Day Nursery is no longer in operation. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 16 April 2026.

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This article is based on an official press release issued by a Police Force. Document: Nursery admits corporate manslaughter over death of toddler suffocated to death Source Link: 

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