Toddler death nursery accused of health and safety breaches over jelly choking
Jo Parkes
Monday, January 18, 2016
The case of a nursery accused of blunders which led to a toddler choking to death on a cube of jelly will be heard at crown court.
Tiya Chauhan was aged 22 months when the tragedy happened at Dicky Birds nursery in Wimbledon, south London, in August 2012.
The toddler swallowed the raw jelly during a ‘sensory game’ which also featured a spaghetti swamp and toy insects.
She was allegedly found unconscious on the nursery floor and later pronounced dead in hospital.
At Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on January 15, District Judge Andrew Sweet agreed with lawyers the case was too serious for magistrates and should be sent to the crown court.
Dicky Birds Pre School Nurseries Ltd is a family-owned business with other nurseries in Wimbledon, Raynes Park, New Malden and Surbiton.
Judge Sweet adjourned the case to 11 February, when a plea hearing is due to take place at Kingston Crown Court.
The nursery is charged with two breaches of health and safety regulations.
