Latest news with #DeborahLatewood
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Dudley nursery worker admits manslaughter after toddler's death
A nursery worker has admitted manslaughter in connection with the death of a 14-month-old Sibanda died after an incident at Dudley's Fairytales Day Nursery, in the West Midlands, on 9 December Cookson, 22, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligence owner Deborah Latewood, 54, appeared alongside Cookson in the dock and denied failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between 29 November and 9 December 2022. A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of the firm which ran the now-closed nursery, based in Bourne Street, to one count of corporate includes an alleged failure to ensure children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way, failure to ensure staff were adequately trained to put babies down to sleep and failure to ensure staff were adequately supervised while doing company also denies failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure Noah and others were not exposed to risk between 29 November and 9 December 2022. Cookson and Latewood spoke only to confirm their date of birth and to enter their pleas in front of the courtroom, which was packed with members of Noah's family and supporters of the Michael Chambers KC said Latewood and the company would face a trial, likely to be in 2026, but did not set a will be sentenced upon conclusion of the trial, which is expected to last three weeks and both Cookson and Ms Latewood were released on unconditional bail until the next Chambers said: "In your case, Kimberley Cookson, you have had the courage to plead guilty and will get the appropriate credit for that plea."I am adjourning your sentencing until the conclusion of the trial, so the judge will have all the facts of the case."He warned both defendants that if they did not appear for their trial, they could face further criminal proceedings.A pre-trial review hearing was set for 5 December. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Nursery worker admits manslaughter after death of 14-month-old boy
A nursery worker has admitted manslaughter in connection with the death of a 14-month-old boy. Kimberley Cookson, 22, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligence manslaughter following the death of Noah Sibanda, who died after an incident at Dudley's Fairytales Day Nursery on December 9 2022. Business owner Deborah Latewood, 54, appeared alongside Cookson in the dock and pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022. A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of the firm which ran the now-closed nursery, based in Bourne Street, to one count of corporate manslaughter, including an alleged failure to ensure that children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way, failure to ensure that staff were adequately trained to put babies down to sleep and failure to ensure staff were adequately supervised while doing so. The company also pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022. Cookson, who wore a green shirt, and Latewood, who wore a white shirt and a grey blazer, spoke only to confirm their date of birth and to enter their pleas in front of the courtroom, which was packed with members of Noah's family and supporters of the defendants. Judge Michael Chambers KC said Latewood and the company would face a trial, likely to be in 2026, but did not set a date. Cookson will be sentenced upon conclusion of the trial, which is expected to last three weeks and both Cookson and Latewood were released on unconditional bail until the next hearing. Judge Chambers said: 'In your case, Kimberley Cookson, you have had the courage to plead guilty and will get the appropriate credit for that plea. 'I am adjourning your sentencing until the conclusion of the trial, so the judge will have all the facts of the case.' He warned both defendants that if they did not appear for their trial, they could face further criminal proceedings. A pre-trial review hearing was set for December 5.
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter over death of toddler at Dudley nursery
A woman has admitted the manslaughter of a toddler who died at a nursery in Dudley. Kimberley Cookson, 22, who was a nursery practitioner, and Deborah Latewood, 54, who was the director and business owner of Fairytales Day Nursery in Bourne Street, Dudley, face charges in connection with the death of 14-month-old Noah Sibanda. Noah died following an incident at the nursery in Bourne Street, Dudley on 9 December 2022. The pair appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court this morning (Tuesday 10 June) to enter their pleas. Kimberley Cookson pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligence manslaughter. Fairytales Nursery Limited pleaded not guilty to one count of corporate manslaughter and failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The nursery is no longer in operation and the registration was suspended by Ofsted who believed children may be at risk of harm.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Nursery worker and owner appear in court in connection with child's death
A nursery worker and a business owner have appeared before magistrates charged in connection with the death of a 14-month-old boy. Nursery worker Kimberley Cookson and business owner Deborah Latewood both saw the case against them transferred to Wolverhampton Crown Court after a seven-minute hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Cookson, aged 22, did not enter a formal plea to the gross negligence manslaughter of Noah Sibanda, who died after an incident at Dudley's Fairytales Day Nursery on December 9 2022. The firm which ran the now-closed nursery, based in Bourne Street, has also been charged with one count of corporate manslaughter, including an alleged failure to ensure that children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way. Both Latewood, aged 54, and the company also face a charge of failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022. The corporate manslaughter charge alleges that Noah was unlawfully killed in that the nursery failed to take reasonable care by 'failing to ensure that children in the baby room would be put down to sleep in a safe way' and also failed to ensure staff doing so were adequately trained and supervised. The charge also alleges that the 'breach of duty fell far below what could have been reasonably be expected in the circumstances' and 'was a substantial cause of the death of Noah'. The court heard formal pleas could not be entered to either manslaughter or corporate manslaughter at the magistrates' court, with the offences only triable on a Crown Court indictment. Latewood made no indication of plea on behalf of herself of the company. Magistrates granted unconditional bail to the defendants, who are both from Dudley, and ordered them to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on June 10.
ITV News
13-05-2025
- ITV News
Nursery owner appears in court in connection with death of a 14-month-old boy
A nursery worker and a business owner have appeared before magistrates charged in connection with the death of a 14-month-old boy. Nursery worker Kimberley Cookson and business owner Deborah Latewood both saw the case against them transferred to Wolverhampton Crown Court, after a seven-minute hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Cookson, aged 22, did not enter a formal plea to the gross negligence manslaughter of Noah Sibanda, who died after an incident at Dudley's Fairytales Day Nursery on December 9th 2022. The firm which ran the now-closed nursery, based in Bourne Street, has also been charged with one count of corporate manslaughter, including an alleged failure to ensure that children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way. Deborah Latewood, aged 54, and the company also face a charge of failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29th and December 9th 2022. The corporate manslaughter charge alleges that Noah was unlawfully killed in that the nursery failed to take reasonable care by 'failing to ensure that children in the baby room would be put down to sleep in a safe way' and also failed to ensure staff doing so were adequately trained and supervised. The charge also alleges that the 'breach of duty fell far below what could have been reasonably be expected in the circumstances' and 'was a substantial cause of the death of Noah'. The court heard formal pleas could not be entered to either manslaughter or corporate manslaughter at the magistrates' court, with the offences only triable on a Crown Court indictment. Deborah Latewood made no indication of plea on behalf of herself of the company. Magistrates granted unconditional bail to the defendants, who are both from Dudley, and ordered them to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on June 10th.
