Nursery worker sentenced over death of a 14-month-old boy she restrained
Noah Sibanda died after he was placed face down on a cushion in a tightly wrapped sleeping bag and a blanket over his head by nursery worker Kimberley Cookson
Nursery worker sentenced over death of a 14-month-old boy she restrained
Noah was placed to sleep in a way that “severely restricted his ability to breathe and move”
STORY BY MELISSA SIGODO
APRIL 17, 2026
A nursery worker has been sentenced over the death of a 14-month-old boy who she restrained in “reckless and dangerous” sleeping practices.
Noah Sibanda died after he was placed face down on a cushion in a tightly wrapped sleeping bag and a blanket over his head by nursery worker Kimberley Cookson, 23, in December 2022.
During sentencing, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Cookson had placed her leg over the toddler for seven minutes and that he was unable to escape at Fairytales Day Nursery in Bourne Street, Dudley.
Now, Cookson has been jailed for three years and four months for the gross negligence manslaughter of the 14-month-old.
Deborah Latewood, the owner of Fairytales Day Nursery has been sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
In a tribute to Noah, his parents said: “Our son Noah died at just 14 months old because of the gross negligence of someone who was trusted to care for him.
“When your child is taken from this world, the loss is immeasurable. It affects every part of your life, every relationship, and every day that follows.
“After he was born, we truly felt he was a prayer answered. He was always our calm, mild little boy, and as his personality grew, he became more confident, intelligent, but always kind, and he often looked at us with a sense of patience and gentleness.
“Noah deserved to live. He deserved to be protected. And we deserved to watch him grow up.”
Following an inspection by Ofsted, the nursery along with a second linked nursery on St James Road was closed and police launched an investigation into Noah’s death.
Officers reviewed hours of CCTV footage and uncovered the extent of the nursery’s unsafe “sleeping practices with children.”
In the events leading up to Noah’s death, his key worker, Kimberley Cookson, wrapped Noah tightly in a blanket and placed him face down on a cushion with a blanket over his head. He could not free himself so slid off the cushion onto the floor.
After only being awake 30 minutes, Noah was put down ready for another sleep. He was again wrapped up and placed face down in a tepee with a blanket over his head at around 12.45pm. Despite Noah’s wriggles, Cookson continued to pat him to sleep and put her leg over him for several minutes.
Noah wasn’t physically checked on until 3.15pm, when staff realised, he wasn’t breathing and rang paramedics.
On 16 December 2022, Cookson, aged 23, was arrested in relation to Noah’s death.
Following further enquiries into the nursery’s safety procedures, the owner of Fairytales Day Nursery, Deborah Latewood, was then also arrested on January 4, 2023.
Sleep records were not maintained by nursery staff and Latewood was unable to establish what training baby room staff had completed.
During interview, Cookson said she wasn’t aware that placing a child on their back was safer and she also placed bedding over the children’s faces as the nursery curtains were poor and some preferred sleeping in the dark.
Following a lengthy investigation, the two women were subsequently charged.
Cookson admitted gross negligence manslaughter at a hearing last June.
Last month, Latewood admitted to failing to comply with general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Fairytales Nursery Limited has also admitted to corporate manslaughter and failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Today, during the sentencing hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the judge said dangerous sleep techniques were used, and each and every child in the baby room in November and December 2022 was at some risk of death.
The judge also commented, nothing can compensate Noah’s parents for their unimaginable loss.
Detective Inspector Carla Thompson, senior investigating officer, said: “This has been a truly distressing and tragic investigation.
“Noah was just a little boy, whose life was only just beginning but has been lost at the hands of those who were meant to care for him.
“Cookson was obsessed with getting Noah to sleep despite him showing clear signs he just wanted to play.
“She showed little care for Noah, even restraining him to get him to settle.
“Latewood was not aware of the unsafe sleep practices going on in her nursery and as the owner she should have known.
“No outcome will ever be enough to replace the pain and loss experienced by Noah’s family and his loved ones, but I want to thank them for their support during this investigation and their courage to get justice for Noah.”
Fairytales Day Nursery Limited admitted one count of corporate manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence with Director and business owner Debbie Latewood, 55, also admitting a Health and Safety at Work Act offence on the basis that “she did not know children were being put down to sleep in this dangerous way, though should have known.”
Fairytales Day Nursery Limited was fined £240,000 and also ordered to pay £56,000 in costs.
In a statement, Senior Specialist Prosecutor Alex Johnson highlighted that medical findings showed Noah was placed to sleep in a way that “severely restricted his ability to breathe and move” and that the 14-month-year-old was “unable to escape.”
The statement read: “This case has been deeply distressing and represents every parent’s worst nightmare whenever they leave their young child at a nursery.
“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.
“The evidence in this case, including CCTV footage and expert medical findings, showed that Noah was placed to sleep in a way that severely restricted his ability to breathe and move. The prosecution case was that these practices created a suffocating environment, from which a 14-month-old child, was clearly unable to escape.”