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| Kaylea Titford: Parents jailed for letting neglected teen die | Kaylea Titford: Parents jailed for letting neglected teen die |
| (3 months later) | |
| Alun Titford and Sarah Lloyd-Jones have been jailed | Alun Titford and Sarah Lloyd-Jones have been jailed |
| The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died following "shocking" neglect have been jailed. | The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died following "shocking" neglect have been jailed. |
| Kaylea Titford's father Alun Titford, from Newtown, Powys, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence and has been jailed for seven years and six months. | Kaylea Titford's father Alun Titford, from Newtown, Powys, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence and has been jailed for seven years and six months. |
| Kaylea's mother Sarah Lloyd-Jones admitted the same charge and was sentenced to six years. | Kaylea's mother Sarah Lloyd-Jones admitted the same charge and was sentenced to six years. |
| The teenager's body was found on soiled sheets at their home in October 2020. | The teenager's body was found on soiled sheets at their home in October 2020. |
| Sentencing the pair at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, Mr Justice Martin Griffiths said Kaylea's parents were "both equally responsible and were both equally culpable." | Sentencing the pair at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, Mr Justice Martin Griffiths said Kaylea's parents were "both equally responsible and were both equally culpable." |
| The judge added: "This was a horrifying case. A case of sustained neglect, leading to the death of a vulnerable, bedridden child at the hands of her own parents." | The judge added: "This was a horrifying case. A case of sustained neglect, leading to the death of a vulnerable, bedridden child at the hands of her own parents." |
| The moment Kaylea Titford's parents are sentenced | The moment Kaylea Titford's parents are sentenced |
| The moment Kaylea Titford's parents are sentenced | The moment Kaylea Titford's parents are sentenced |
| The hearing was the first time broadcasters were allowed to film a crown court hearing in Wales, following a major change in the law last year which permitted TV cameras in some courtrooms. | The hearing was the first time broadcasters were allowed to film a crown court hearing in Wales, following a major change in the law last year which permitted TV cameras in some courtrooms. |
| Kaylea had spina bifida, which left her with little feeling from the waist down and limited her mobility, and had used a wheelchair from a young age. | Kaylea had spina bifida, which left her with little feeling from the waist down and limited her mobility, and had used a wheelchair from a young age. |
| Neglected teen left to die alone by parents | Neglected teen left to die alone by parents |
| Parents killed girl by letting her become obese | Parents killed girl by letting her become obese |
| The trial heard that when she was found dead at her home on 10 October 2020 she was morbidly obese, weighing nearly 23 stone (146 kg). | The trial heard that when she was found dead at her home on 10 October 2020 she was morbidly obese, weighing nearly 23 stone (146 kg). |
| Her hair was dirty and matted and she was unwashed with ulcerated skin. | Her hair was dirty and matted and she was unwashed with ulcerated skin. |
| 'Squalor and degradation' | 'Squalor and degradation' |
| Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said her parents' "serious failures were hidden from the world" because of the coronavirus lockdown, which kept Kaylea at home from March 2020 onwards. | Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said her parents' "serious failures were hidden from the world" because of the coronavirus lockdown, which kept Kaylea at home from March 2020 onwards. |
| This left her "trapped" in an "inhumane" environment where she lay on "filthy puppy pads", with maggots and flies on and around her body. | This left her "trapped" in an "inhumane" environment where she lay on "filthy puppy pads", with maggots and flies on and around her body. |
| Kaylea had been restricted to her bed for more than six months since the start of the UK's Covid lockdown when she died | Kaylea had been restricted to her bed for more than six months since the start of the UK's Covid lockdown when she died |
| "Kaylea lived and died in squalor and degradation", she added. | "Kaylea lived and died in squalor and degradation", she added. |
| Before the lockdown, Kaylea was described as being "fiercely independent and a lovely, chatty girl", but she became less able to move using a wheelchair. | Before the lockdown, Kaylea was described as being "fiercely independent and a lovely, chatty girl", but she became less able to move using a wheelchair. |
| Kaylea had not been seen by any medical professional in the nine months prior to her death, the court was told, and the evidence of a doctor was that the "consequences of neglect" were the worst he had seen in 30 years of practice. | Kaylea had not been seen by any medical professional in the nine months prior to her death, the court was told, and the evidence of a doctor was that the "consequences of neglect" were the worst he had seen in 30 years of practice. |
| In the three months before her death, the household had spent a total of £1,035.76 on takeaway food. | In the three months before her death, the household had spent a total of £1,035.76 on takeaway food. |
| "As her condition deteriorated, the expenditure on takeaways and fast food increased," Ms Rees said. | "As her condition deteriorated, the expenditure on takeaways and fast food increased," Ms Rees said. |
| The court heard that Kaylea was "eating, sleeping and defecating" from her bed. | The court heard that Kaylea was "eating, sleeping and defecating" from her bed. |
| "The last months of Kaylea Titford's life must have been horrendous," Ms Rees said. | "The last months of Kaylea Titford's life must have been horrendous," Ms Rees said. |
| Sarah Lloyd-Jones arriving for sentencing at Swansea Crown Court | Sarah Lloyd-Jones arriving for sentencing at Swansea Crown Court |
| The court also heard a series of text messages between Kaylea and her mother in August and September 2020, in which she asked for help with "incontinence needs". | The court also heard a series of text messages between Kaylea and her mother in August and September 2020, in which she asked for help with "incontinence needs". |
| "It shows that Sarah Lloyd-Jones was fully aware, and did not do anything about it," Ms Rees said. | "It shows that Sarah Lloyd-Jones was fully aware, and did not do anything about it," Ms Rees said. |
| Ms Rees said it was not a "lapse" in care, but "repeated negligent conduct in the face of obvious suffering". | Ms Rees said it was not a "lapse" in care, but "repeated negligent conduct in the face of obvious suffering". |
| She added: "Both parents had a duty of care, both were equally responsible. The fact that Alun Titford chose to absent himself from the care of Kaylea, does not give him an excuse." | She added: "Both parents had a duty of care, both were equally responsible. The fact that Alun Titford chose to absent himself from the care of Kaylea, does not give him an excuse." |
| Kaylea was subjected to "shocking and prolonged" neglect at the hands of her parents | Kaylea was subjected to "shocking and prolonged" neglect at the hands of her parents |
| In mitigation for Lloyd-Jones, Lewis Power KC said his client had an "epiphany of insight into her actions", leading to her guilty plea. | In mitigation for Lloyd-Jones, Lewis Power KC said his client had an "epiphany of insight into her actions", leading to her guilty plea. |
| "She accepts that she owed her daughter a duty of care, and that she did breach that duty by failing to take reasonable care for her daughter's health and welfare needs." | "She accepts that she owed her daughter a duty of care, and that she did breach that duty by failing to take reasonable care for her daughter's health and welfare needs." |
| Mr Power said that, prior to the pandemic, Lloyd-Jones was "a lady who tried her best", and added that she suffered from depression and became "gradually overwhelmed", particularly due to the "pressures of lockdown". | Mr Power said that, prior to the pandemic, Lloyd-Jones was "a lady who tried her best", and added that she suffered from depression and became "gradually overwhelmed", particularly due to the "pressures of lockdown". |
| David Elias KC, representing Titford, said his client showed "genuine remorse" and that the pair had been "good parents" up until the lockdown period. | David Elias KC, representing Titford, said his client showed "genuine remorse" and that the pair had been "good parents" up until the lockdown period. |
| He said that Titford suffered from depression and a historic drug addiction, "lacked confidence" and was "overly reliant" on others. | He said that Titford suffered from depression and a historic drug addiction, "lacked confidence" and was "overly reliant" on others. |
| However, the judge said he "did not accept" that outside agencies should have been more proactive. | However, the judge said he "did not accept" that outside agencies should have been more proactive. |
| "They never asked for help they didn't get. They never asked for help at all," he said. | "They never asked for help they didn't get. They never asked for help at all," he said. |
| Alun Titford arriving at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing | Alun Titford arriving at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing |
| In a statement after the sentencing, Dean Quick of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "No child should have to endure these types of living conditions or the extensive level of suffering faced by Kaylea. | In a statement after the sentencing, Dean Quick of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "No child should have to endure these types of living conditions or the extensive level of suffering faced by Kaylea. |
| "The level of neglect in this case was some of the most extreme that CPS Cymru-Wales has had to deal with." | "The level of neglect in this case was some of the most extreme that CPS Cymru-Wales has had to deal with." |
| Det Ch Insp Jon Rees, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the conditions Kaylea lived in were "incomprehensible". | Det Ch Insp Jon Rees, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the conditions Kaylea lived in were "incomprehensible". |
| "While we did all we could to ensure we got justice for Kaylea, nothing will take away from the loss of a teenage girl who was so badly let down by the very people who should have been caring for her," he added. | "While we did all we could to ensure we got justice for Kaylea, nothing will take away from the loss of a teenage girl who was so badly let down by the very people who should have been caring for her," he added. |
| NSPCC Cymru said the case was "incredibly distressing", adding that the forthcoming safeguarding review "must leave no stone unturned" in establishing whether more could have been done to protect Kaylea. | NSPCC Cymru said the case was "incredibly distressing", adding that the forthcoming safeguarding review "must leave no stone unturned" in establishing whether more could have been done to protect Kaylea. |
| Powys council said a review would be carried out by the mid and west Wales regional safeguarding children board. | Powys council said a review would be carried out by the mid and west Wales regional safeguarding children board. |
| A spokesman added: "The council does not feel able to comment until this process has been completed." | A spokesman added: "The council does not feel able to comment until this process has been completed." |
| If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, the BBC Action Line has links to organisations which can offer support and advice | If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, the BBC Action Line has links to organisations which can offer support and advice |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | |
| Obesity | Obesity |
| Newtown | Newtown |
| Childhood obesity | Childhood obesity |