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Manslaughter charges after boy's nursery death

Andy Giddings
BBC News, West Midlands
Family photo A young child with dark hair and a white T-shirt, holding a card which reads "today I am 11". He sits on some form of seating, in front of a white wall.Family photo
Noah's family described him as a "beautiful, happy and easy-going little boy"

Two people have been charged over the death of a 14-month-old boy at a nursery in the West Midlands.

Noah Sibanda died following an incident at Fairytales Day Nursery on Bourne Street, Dudley, on 9 December 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Nursery worker Kimberley Cookson, 22, from Dudley, was charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter.

The firm's director and owner, Deborah Latewood, 54, also from Dudley, was charged with one count of failing to comply with general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Fairytales Nursery Ltd was also charged with one count of corporate manslaughter and failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The defendants are due to appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court on 13 May.

The youngster's parents said: "Noah was a beautiful, happy and easy-going little boy and we miss him very much."

Google A red brick building surrounded by black metal railings with a number of signs on the wall. A yellow car can be seen just inside the railings and signs with "Fairytale Day Nursery" and other slogans hang on the building's walls.Google
An investigation was carried out after the death of the 14-month-old at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley

The nursery was closed by Ofsted, along with other linked premises, on 14 December 2022, after the watchdog said "children may be at risk of harm".

Six women were initially arrested in connection with the investigation in the weeks after Noah's death and West Midlands Police said the other four would face no further action.

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