Noah Sibanda death: Sentencing in Dudley nursery case at Wolverhampton Crown Court
Noah Sibanda death: Sentencing in Dudley nursery case at Wolverhampton Crown Court
Noah Sibanda died after being restrained at Fairytales Day Nursery. Sentencing for the nursery, its owner and a worker is underway at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
A 14-month-old boy, Noah Sibanda, died in December 2022 after being restrained at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley. Sentencing hearings are under way at Wolverhampton Crown Court for the nursery, its owner, and a nursery worker following his death.
The court has heard that nursery worker Kimberley Cookson, then 23, is due to be sentenced for gross negligence manslaughter after she placed Noah face-down on a soft cushion inside a teepee in the baby room, with her left leg on his lower back to stop him moving. Noah died after being left in that position for an extended period, with the tragedy prompting scrutiny of safeguarding practices in early-years settings.
Noah's mother, Masi Sibanda, described her son's final moments as 'alone, scared and in pain' and said she has regretted parting with him every day since his death. 'My guilt comes from knowing I handed him over to people who killed him,' she told the court in a victim impact statement.
Deborah Latewood, the nursery owner, is due to be sentenced for a health and safety offence, while the nursery itself faces sentencing for corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offence. The case has brought renewed focus on safety standards in childcare and the responsibilities of settings caring for vulnerable children. The Fairytales Day Nursery has since closed as the legal process continues.
