Summary
A 14-month-old boy named Noah Sibanda died at a nursery in Dudley after staff restrained him by placing him face down with a leg on his back to make him sleep. The nursery worker, owner, and the nursery face court sentencing for manslaughter and health and safety offences.
Key Facts
- Noah Sibanda died on December 9, 2022, at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley.
- Nursery worker Kimberley Cookson placed Noah face down on a soft cushion and used her left leg on his back to keep him still.
- Noah was wrapped tightly in a sleeping bag and had a blanket over his head, which the nursery used to block light and help children sleep.
- CCTV showed Noah struggling before being restrained, and Cookson left him alone for about two hours without checking.
- The nursery worker is being sentenced for gross negligence manslaughter.
- The nursery owner is being sentenced for a health and safety offence.
- The nursery itself faces charges of corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences.
- Noah’s mother expressed deep grief and guilt in a court statement, describing how Noah was "alone, scared and in pain" in his final moments.
