Noah Sibanda death: 'My son died at nursery alone, scared, and in pain'

A deeply tragic incident unfolded at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley, where 14-month-old Noah Sibanda lost his life under distressing circumstances. Noah died on 9 December 2022 after being restrained and placed face down to sleep by a nursery worker. His mother, Masi Sibanda, shared the heartbreak of what her son endured in his final moments, describing him as “alone, scared and in pain.” She expressed overwhelming guilt, stating, “Since his death, there has not been a single day I haven’t regretted being alive when he is not,” and lamented, “My guilt comes from knowing I handed him over to people who killed him.”

The circumstances surrounding Noah’s death have led to legal proceedings currently underway at Wolverhampton Crown Court. Nursery employee Kimberley Cookson, aged 23, faces sentencing for gross negligence manslaughter. According to court reports, in an effort to get Noah to sleep, Cookson placed him face down on a soft cushion inside a teepee structure within the baby room. She restrained him further by resting her left leg on his lower back to stop him from moving. In addition to Cookson, the nursery’s owner, 55-year-old Deborah Latewood, is set to be sentenced for a health and safety offence. The nursery itself is also facing sentencing for corporate manslaughter and breaches of health and safety regulations.

Masi Sibanda described her son as a confident toddler who was “always kind and full of patience and gentleness.” Before the tragedy, Masi admitted to having placed “naive trust in the nursery,” feelings she now says will cause her lasting guilt. She drew attention to the use of “excessive” force on Noah, comparing it to methods used in prisons, and stated, “he was treated as a felon, a danger, as if he was in jail.” Her grief was compounded by an inability to forgive those responsible, saying, “I can’t forgive myself and cannot forgive [the] defendants.” She also raised troubling questions about whether Noah’s treatment was influenced by his skin colour or prejudices held by the nursery staff.

Reflecting on the devastating loss, Masi underscored the emotional toll the case has taken on her family, saying, “There was no sentence that Kimberley could receive that would amount to the pain and suffering we have been put through.” She described the fear and neglect behind closed doors at the nursery, likening it to “playing Russian roulette with our children.” Masi recounted the final moments she spent with Noah in hospital, recalling how he failed to respond when she whispered to him, and how she watched Noah’s father comfort their son while whispering, “I’m so sorry, little one.”

Additional details emerged in court about the conditions on the day Noah died. He had been tightly wrapped in blankets and placed face down inside a “sleeping pod” — in reality, a sleeping bag intended for outdoor use. Efforts to get him to nap were unsuccessful, and a blanket was placed over his head, an act described in the hearing as “commonplace,” but which contributed to the lethal situation. These facts have deeply shocked the community and raise serious questions about the care practices at the now-closed nursery

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