Sixteen-month-old Molly Cunliffe strangled herself on a clothes bag attached to her cot at Tiddlywinks Nursery after she was left unattended for more than 20 minutes.

Last year, an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing after hearing that 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.

The city council has now charged Rosemarie Meadows, 45, who owned the nursery at the time of the tragedy in October 2005, with two counts of breaching health and safety regulations.

Meadows, of Oldbury Orchard, Churchdown, was due to enter her pleas at Gloucester Magistrates' Court. But the case was adjourned so that defence lawyer Simon Morgan could have a "deep discussion" with his client.

The first charge alleges that Meadows "failed to make sufficient assessment of the risks to health and safety of babies and toddlers, arising out of conduct at Tiddlywinks Nursery, in that no risk assessment addressed the risk of entanglement and strangulation arising from the presence of loops and cords in the presence of babies and toddlers".

The second similar charge claims that she failed to ensure that persons in the nursery were not exposed to risks to their health. Both allegations cover January 1, 2004, to October 21, 2005.

Molly's parents, Keata Glenton, 30, and Matthew Cunliffe, 29, were in court, but Meadows was not.

Previously Ms Glenton said her heart had been "ripped out" by the events at the Worcester Street nursery, which has now closed.

The case will return to Gloucester on September 12 when Meadows will enter pleas.



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