Passing sentence on Friday, High Court judge Mr Justice Choudhury said the tragic events meant that Noah’s parents, Mr and Mrs Sibanda, would never see their child alive again.
The court reviewed CCTV footage from the baby room, which the judge described as “shocking.” The footage revealed repeated instances of rough handling of babies by several nursery practitioners, including Miss Cookson, often occurring in the presence of a manager.
The judge noted that babies were frequently tightly swaddled and then covered with blankets or cloth—an “established” but dangerous practice. He emphasised that no staff member challenged this behaviour, allowing unsafe conditions to persist.
“These dangerous and unacceptable practices, which went unchecked at the nursery, reached their inevitable conclusion on 9 December 2022,” he said.
Addressing Cookson directly, the judge added: “In my judgment, Noah’s suffering may not have been obvious to you, but it ought to have been. This is not a case where you knowingly set out to suffocate or asphyxiate.
“You are clearly remorseful. You have attempted to understand that Noah’s parents are the real sufferers here, and you have not sought to blame others.”
In response, Ofsted, which ordered the nursery to close shortly after the incident, expressed deep regret.
“Our thoughts remain with Noah’s family, and we are deeply sorry for their loss,” the statement read. “No child should ever come to harm in a place that is meant to keep them safe.”
The organisation added that the government has announced new funding to enable more frequent nursery inspections, as part of ongoing efforts to improve child safety.