Nursery worker jailed over death of toddler who suffocated to death at nap time

Nursery worker jailed over death of toddler who suffocated to death at nap timeWARNING: DISTRESSING DETAILS - Noah Sibanda, who was 14 months old, died at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley after he was suffocated as nursery worker Kimberley Cookson tried to get him to sleepNewsZahra Khaliq News Reporter15:32, 17 Apr 2026Updated 15:45, 17 Apr 2026Footage of Noah Sibanda placed in tepee at nursery in manslaughter caseA nursery worker cried in court before she was jailed for three years and four months after a 14-month-old toddler suffocated to death while she tried to get him to sleep in an "exceptionally dangerous" position.‌Noah Sibanda died at Fairytales Day Nursery in Bourne Street, Dudley, on December 9, 2022, after he was held down in a tightly wrapped sleeping bag. CCTV captured the tragic toddler lying face down in the bag with a blanket over his head as nursery worker Kimberley Cookson restrained him with her leg.‌At one point, he was seen "thrashing around" before Cookson, 23, who had previously pleaded guilty to gross negligence manslaughter, put her left leg across the 14-month-old's body to restrict his movement, prosecutor John Elvidge said. Noah continued to struggle as Cookson patted his back.‌At 13:08pm, the toddler made "occasional movement," Wolverhampton Crown Court heard, but Cookson, who told the court she "deserved to be punished" pushed the sleeping bag tighter around Noah and, by 1:10pm, he was no longer moving.View 6 ImagesKimberley Cookson, 23, said she 'deserves to be punished' READ MORE: Teen who stabbed stepdad and dog to death 'for thrill' had chilling 'kill list'READ MORE: XL bully owner jailed after 'confused' pensioner mauled to death and 'eaten'Mr Elvidge said Cookson removed her knee from Noah after about seven minutes and appeared to indicate to her colleague that she believed the toddler was asleep.‌The private nursery, which is no longer...