Woman, 22, indicates guilty plea over death of baby at Dudley nursery

The prosecution called for Cookson to be sentenced as soon as possible separately from Latewood whose case could go to trial as she is not indicating a plea.

Deborah Latewood, 54 and of Himley Avenue, Dudley, who was the director and business owner, has been charged with one count of failing to comply with general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Noah Sibanda died following an incident at the nursery on December 9, 2022.

Fairytales Nursery Limited has been charged with one count of corporate manslaughter and failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The full charge was: "On December 9, 2022, Fairytales Nursery unlawfully killed Noah Sibanda in that it owed Noah Sibanda a duty of care as an occupier of premises and in connection with the supply of services, In breach of that duty of care it failed to take reasonable care in that it failed to ensure that children in the baby room would be put down to sleep in a safe way.

"It failed to ensure that staff who were putting children down to sleep in the baby room were adequately trained. It failed to ensure that staff who were putting children down to sleep in the baby room were adequately supervised.

"And that breach of duty fell far below what could have been reasonably be expected in the circumstances and was a gross breach... that breach of duty was a substantial cause of the death of Noah Sibanda."

Both women sat tearfully in the dock as a packed public gallery watched the proceedings.

Both defendants were asked their names and whether they would give an indication of plea to the charges. Cookson said she would plead guilty at the next hearing. Latewood said she was not giving an indication of plea for her charges.

The pair will appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on June 10 and were both given bail.

Both were told it would be a serious offence if they did not attend the court on that day.