My son died alone, scared, and in pain
On 9 December 2022, a 14-month-old boy named Noah Sibanda passed away at Fairytales Day Nursery, which has since closed. His mother, Masi Sibanda, described the final moments of his life as traumatic, stating he was “alone, scared, and in pain” before his death. The case has led to the sentencing of the nursery’s owner, a staff member, and the facility itself at Wolverhampton Crown Court, with the hearing continuing on Friday.
Regret and Guilt
Masi Sibanda expressed deep remorse in her victim impact statement, saying she has felt “naive trust in the nursery” and “will forever feel guilty” for handing her son over to those who caused his death. She described Noah as a “confident, kind, and gentle” child who had no reason to be treated as a “felon, a danger” in the way he was handled that day. “No sentence could ever match the pain and suffering we’ve endured,” she said, adding that her guilt stems from believing the nursery had killed her child.
“I can’t forgive myself and cannot forgive the defendants,” Masi said. “Last time I saw and held my child was in hospital, shortly after I was told nothing more could be done. He wouldn’t open his eyes when I whispered to him that it was time to go home.”
The Tragic Incident
According to court testimony, Noah was wrapped in blankets and placed face down in a “sleeping pod” by Kimberley Cookson, a 23-year-old nursery worker. The pod, a makeshift sleeping bag intended for outdoor use, was used to help him nap. However, he resisted sleep, and Cookson covered his head with a blanket to block out light, a practice described as “commonplace” at the nursery. She then positioned her left leg across his back for seven minutes, applying “excessive” force that left him struggling and thrashing.
After leaving Noah unattended for two hours, staff failed to check on him repeatedly. At 15:13, Cookson noticed he was unresponsive and moved him to the nappy-changing room. Emergency services were called at 15:17, and CPR was performed by staff, many of whom appeared visibly shaken. Paramedics arrived at 15:23, and Noah was taken to the hospital by ambulance at 15:52, where he was pronounced dead at 16:15.
Legal Proceedings and Accountability
Kimberley Cookson is facing charges of gross negligence manslaughter for her actions. The nursery owner, Deborah Latewood, 55, is being prosecuted for a health and safety breach, while the nursery itself is accused of corporate manslaughter. Masi Sibanda questioned whether Noah’s treatment was influenced by his skin color or any bias toward his family.
“I could not explain why I behaved so harshly toward Noah that day,” Cookson admitted in court. “I never set out to harm anyone. What happened will haunt me for the rest of my life.”
Her legal representative, Rashad Mohammed KC, stated that Cookson “deserves to be punished” for her role in the incident. The nursery’s lawyer, Dominic Kay, argued that senior management’s decisions constituted a “gross breach” of care. In a statement, the nursery apologized, acknowledging that Noah’s death should not have occurred.
