Weeping mother tells of finding lost son’s body in tumble dryer

Sonny Gibson was found inside the machine by his mother Anne at the family home in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, when she returned home after spending the night at a friend’s house.

At an inquest into his death at Derby Coroner’s Court yesterday, Mrs Gibson said she had stayed out unexpectedly after having too much to drink, leaving Sonny in the care of his teenage siblings as she had done in the past.

But the boy was not in his room when she returned home the following morning, on July 26, this year. After a desperate search she called the police, and in the company of a female officer made the heartbreaking discovery.

Mrs Gibson fought back sobs as she told the inquest: “I checked all the house again, then I looked in the washing machine. I opened the tumble dryer door and he was there. He was just curled up.”

Pc Wendy Foxon had arrived at 10.45am to help search the house, while other officers and a police helicopter were hunting outside.

The officer said she pressed a “frantic” Mrs Gibson for a description of what Sonny was wearing. Mrs Gibson was unable to answer, having not seen him that day.

Pc Foxton fought back tears as she said: “She went into the washing machine to try and work out what was missing. It was at this point she shouted that she could see him in the dryer. We went over and I could see...you could see something against the door.”

The pair pulled Sonny from the dryer, which Pc Foxon said was difficult because his body was quite stiff. Mrs Gibson sat on the floor, cradling the child and rocking backwards and forwards.

Pc Foxon said Sonny’s body was “warmer than warm...It was not the warmth of a human being.”

A post mortem examination revealed that Sonny died from injuries consistent with the tumble dryer having been “active” while he was inside it.

A Home Office pathologist said he had suffered a blunt head trauma, had inhaled hot gases and suffered various burns to his body. There was no evidence Sonny had been forced into the machine.

Tests were later carried out using a sandbag mannequin the size and shape as Sonny’s body, to establish if the dryer door could have shut and the appliance switched on with the boy inside.

Scenes of crime officer Anthony Coombs said a colleague set the timer and then pushed the dryer door open so that it bounced on its hinge and swung shut, the door hook latching into place.

“Five out of six times the machine actively tumbled, and the sandbag physically tumbled round in the machine,” he said.

Mrs Gibson said she thought she had used the dryer the day before, but could not be certain she had re-set the timer to zero as usual.

She said Sonny was “very independent for a four-year-old” and had previously been caught trying to climb into the tumble dryer.

“He was told if you want anything out the dryer you’ve got to come and ask,” she said. “But Sonny had no concept of danger.”

Mrs Gibson, a care assistant, was arrested on suspicion of child neglect last year. She told the inquest she had initially lied to police – saying she had been at home that morning – to protect her family.

All charges were later dropped.

Deputy Coroner Louise Pinder recorded a verdict of accidental death, stating she was satisfied with the care arrangements.

She said evidence had shown that Mrs Gibson believed Sonny would be cared for competently, telling her: “It’s not relevant that you decided to stay out – but I’ve no doubt the decision will haunt you for a long time to come.”