A heartbreaking case out of the UK has taken a dramatic turn after a nursery practitioner admitted to causing the death of a 14-month-old boy due to gross negligence.
Kimberley Cookson, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the December 2022 death of toddler Noah Sibanda at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley, West Midlands. The plea was entered during a court appearance on Tuesday, June 10, according to reports from ITV News and the Hereford Times.
The toddler died following what officials described as an “incident” at the nursery. Following a review of the case, the Crown Prosecution Service moved forward with criminal charges earlier this year.
“This was a deeply tragic case involving the loss of a young child’s life,” said Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS’s Special Crime Division. “Following a review of the evidence provided by West Midlands Police, we have authorised criminal charges in relation to the death of a 14-month-old child.”
But Cookson is not the only one facing legal consequences. Deborah Latewood, 54, who owned and directed Fairytales Day Nursery, has been charged with failing to comply with general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act. She pleaded not guilty.
The company itself, Fairytales Nursery Limited, which has since shut down, faces a corporate manslaughter charge and additional allegations under the same health and safety law. The company also entered a plea of not guilty.
According to reports, the charges stem from a list of alleged failures, including putting babies down to sleep in unsafe ways, inadequate training of staff on safe sleep practices, and a lack of proper supervision.
Following Noah’s death, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) immediately suspended the nursery’s registration after determining there may be an ongoing risk to children.
The trial for Latewood and the company is expected to take place in 2026, though no official date has been set. Both she and Cookson were released on unconditional bail.
Judge Michael Chambers KC acknowledged Cookson’s plea, telling her in court, “You have had the courage to plead guilty and will get the appropriate credit for that plea.” However, her sentencing will be delayed until after the other proceedings conclude so that the full details of the case can be considered.
A follow-up hearing is scheduled for December 5.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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