Nursery Admits Corporate Manslaughter in Toddler Suffocation

A 14-month-old boy suffocated to death at a nursery in Dudley, West Midlands, after being physically restrained in a dangerous sleeping position by a staff member, prosecutors said. The incident occurred on December 9, 2022, at Fairytales Day Nursery on Bourne Street, leading to the nursery's admission of corporate manslaughter and related charges this week.

Noah Sibanda was tightly wrapped in a sleeping bag and placed face down on a soft cushion, with a blanket covering his head, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. Nursery practitioner Kimberley Cookson, 23, of Dudley, held him in place and used her leg to restrain him for a period, in an apparent attempt to force him to sleep despite his resistance. The entire sequence was captured on CCTV footage at the facility.

After an extended time in this position, staff noticed Noah was not breathing and called emergency services. Paramedics responded to reports of cardiac arrest, but the toddler was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Expert medical analysis later confirmed that the restraints severely limited his ability to breathe or move, creating a suffocating environment from which he could not escape.