THE manufacturer of a 'cot bed' in which a baby died by strangulation will accept some responsibility for the death, a jury heard.

But Craig Williams, 37, continues to deny that he is guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence of seven-month-old Oscar Abbey.

The jury has heard that the baby, of Tang Hall, York, died when his wriggles as he slept left him trapped by the neck in a hole in the side of the cot.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday that the mother of a two-year-old toddler also found her sleeping daughter hanging by the neck through part of another bed supplied by Williams’ company Playtime Beds Ltd.

“I am just so grateful I checked on her when I did, as I dread to think what may have happened if I hadn’t,” the mother said in a statement read to the jury. Her child survived the incident a few months before Oscar’s death on November 3, 2016.

The mother of a third child, Debbie Moore, alleged that the child’s bed she ordered from Playtime Beds Ltd didn’t arrive as agreed on November 11, 2016.

An email from the company on November 14 claimed it had had to “close for a couple of weeks” because of a "slight issue”.

The jury has seen emails sent to her from November 17 onwards from Joseph Bruce, claiming to be the managing director of a second company, Magical Dream Beds Ltd.

He alleged Playtime Beds Ltd had closed down and his company had taken over its orders. He also alleged his company was unconnected to Playtime Beds and that its beds met British safety standards.

Mrs Moore alleged that when two men arrived to deliver her £660 bespoke bed including installation, “Joe” who appeared to be in charge, called his companion “Craig”.

“That was confirmation I was still dealing with the same people I was dealing with previously,” she claimed.

Williams claims he was not involved with Magical Dream Beds Ltd.

Williams, of Park View Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham, also denies a charge of defrauding Mrs Moore by false representation, a charge Bruce, 31, of Kimberworth Road, Rotherham, has admitted.

Answering a jury question about the definition of manslaughter by gross negligence, Mr Justice Martin Spencer said the defence accepted Williams was in breach of his duty of care towards Oscar and that his breach caused the baby’s death.

But the jury would have to decide his actions were “utterly exceptional” and more than a serious error of judgement or a serious mistake in order to find him guilty of the manslaughter charge, the court heard.

The trial continues.