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crime18h ago
Nursery worker jailed for killing toddler while trying to make him go to sleep
Metro.co.uk and 2 more
- Noah Sibanda, aged 14 months, died after being restrained to sleep at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley, with CCTV evidence described as shocking by the judge.
- Kimberley Cookson received a prison term of three years and four months after pleading guilty to gross negligence manslaughter in Noah's death.
- Fairytales Day Nursery was fined 240,000 pounds and later faced costs totaling 56,000 pounds, following the death of Noah Sibanda and related health and safety findings.
- The owner, Deborah Latewood, admitted a Health and Safety at Work Act offence, acknowledging she should have known children were being put down to sleep in a dangerous way.
- Noah's parents described their loss as a profound absence that is felt in every corner of their lives, saying they never expected harm from a safety-focused setting.
- Prosecution argued Noah was left unchecked for two hours while being housed in a dangerous sleeping setup, with him placed face-down and restrained during attempts to make him sleep.
- The trial highlighted systemic failures at the nursery, including staffing changes and concerns raised about training and supervision in private childcare settings.
- The court noted Noah was 'totally smothered by the sleeping bag and blanket' during the incident, underscoring the severity of the abuse Noah suffered.
- Dominic Kay KC acknowledged that nursery staff were trained, but the training did not translate into safe sleeping practices, contributing to Noah's death.
- The Sibanda family publicly stated Noah's absence is felt in every corner of their lives, emphasizing the personal impact of the tragedy.
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