Baby death carer admits failures

Molly Cunliffe was strangled on a drawstring clothes bag

The former owner of a nursery in Gloucester where a toddler died faces an unlimited fine after she admitted breaching health and safety laws.

Sixteen-month-old Molly Cunliffe strangled herself on a drawstring clothes bag attached to her cot at Tiddlywinks nursery in October 2005.

Rosemary Meadows, 45, from Oldbury Orchard, Churchdown, owned the Worcester Street nursery at the time.

The case has now been transferred to crown court by Gloucester magistrates.

Prosecutor Bernard Thorogood advised magistrates that a case of such gravity would be better dealt with by a crown court judge.

Unlawful killing

The maximum financial penalty at their disposal is £20,000, whereas a judge has the power to make an unlimited order.

Meadows entered a guilty plea to one count of breaching health and safety regulations.

The charge claimed she failed to ensure "that babies and toddlers were not exposed to risks to their health and safety by failing to ensure that no cord or loop was allowed in proximity of babies and toddlers".

It also claimed Meadows failed to make sure "babies and toddlers were checked sufficiently regularly in their cots, and that staff were alerted to the risk associated with the cords and loops in the proximity of babies and toddlers".

'Dreadful tragedy'

Last year an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing after hearing Molly had been left in the care of a 17-year-old student and an unqualified member of staff while senior managers held a meeting upstairs.

Molly's parents Keata Glenton, 30, and Matthew Cunliffe, 29, who now have a one-year-old daughter, Ella, released a short statement after the case.

The statement read: "Molly's parents recognise that this dreadful tragedy is being treated very seriously and believe it is right that the case should go to the crown court.

"They have no further comment today save that it is right that the defendant is being held accountable."

Meadows was released on unconditional bail and left the court without making a comment. She will appear at crown court on a date and venue to be fixed.