Parents of a disabled teenager who was found dead in soiled clothing and bed linen after her parents allowed her to become morbidly obese have been jailed for a combined 13 years.
Sixteen-year-old Kaylea Titford’s weight had increased to 22st 13lb when she was discovered sitting up in her bedroom in Newtown, Powys, in October 2020.
Her father, Alun Titford, had denied manslaughter by gross negligence of his daughter but was convicted by a jury in January. He was also found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
Her mother, Sarah Lloyd-Jones, pleaded guilty to the same charges in December.
Shortly before Kaylea died, Titford heard her screaming and instead of checking on his daughter, sent her a text message saying 'stop it'.
This afternoon Titford was jailed to seven years and six months in prison, while Lloyd-Jones was locked up for six years as she pleaded guilty ahead of the trial.
Kaylea, who had spina bifida and hydrocephalus since birth and was described as “fiercely independent” by her parents, died after suffering inflammation and infection from ulcerations caused by obesity and immobility.
Speaking at this morning's sentencing, prosecutor Caroline Rees KC, said: "By the time of her death between October 9-10, Kaylea Titford was living in conditions unfit for any animal, let alone for a vulnerable 16-year-old girl who depended on others for her care.
"Kaylea lived and died in squalor and degradation. Their serious failures were hidden from the scrutiny of the outside world from March 2020 by reason of the national lockdown during the global Covid pandemic.
"This allowed both defendants to avoid the scrutiny of the outside world.
"Kaylea Titford was bed-bound for many months before her death. Kaylea had not used the toilet or shower since before lockdown.
"During the last months of her life she was bed-bound, eating, sleeping and defecating in her own bed."
Horrifically, she added police officers found maggots in various stages of development crawling over the bed when she was moved. They were believed to have been there in her final days.
In a text message exchange read out this morning Kaylea complained about the flies in her room, to which her mother replied: "They like you, lol."
The jury had earlier been told how she had been left to lie in soiled clothing and on filthy bed linen and puppy training pads.
Lewis Power, Lloyd-Jones' lawyer said today his client is a "kind, caring, diligent and loving mother".
He added: "During the lockdown period, when so many people suffered not just mentally but in socialisation, she became gradually overwhelmed.
"Her coping strategies coupled with lockdown led her to develop major depression and she was no longer able to care for her daughter's needs.
"It escalated to the horrendous situation where she withdrew from her everyday responsibilities and led the catastrophic outcome."
Emergency service workers called to the home in October described feeling sick due to an "unbearable" rotting smell in her room.
Her room was said to be dirty and cluttered, with bottles of urine and a chip fryer with drips of fat down the side, as well as a full cake in a box.
The pair splashed out £1,035.76 on takeaways and fizzy drinks in the three months before their daughter's death while failing to keep her clean. Her father believed she had put on "two or three stone since March".
Titford, 45, claimed at trial Lloyd-Jones, 39, was responsible for Kaylea's care, and when he was asked why he had let his daughter down so badly, the removals worker said: "I'm lazy."
He added he had grown apart from his daughter when she reached puberty as she “was female” and he “was not comfortable” with that.
Jurors were shown images and body-worn footage of Kaylea's living conditions, described by the prosecution as "squalor and degradation".
Mold Crown Court had been told Kaylea was forced to live in “conditions unfit for any animal, let alone a vulnerable 16-year-old girl who depended entirely on others for her care”.
Her toenails had not been cut for six months and her armpits were described as “black”.
The court heard Kaylea had attended Newtown High School, where she was described as “funny and chatty” by staff, but did not return following the coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.
Detective Chief Inspector Jonathon Rees said: "The circumstances of Kaylea’s death were tragic, and her parents will have to live with the part they played in that for the rest of their lives.
"This investigation has been extensive, and at times harrowing given Kaylea’s age and the conditions she was living in, yet our officers and partners have worked diligently and professionally throughout.
“I would like to thank them for their efforts, and for getting justice for Kaylea.
"I would also like to thank those who knew Kaylea and members of the community in which she lived for their patience throughout this sensitive investigation."
Speaking during sentencing Mr Justice Griffiths described Kaylea's death as "shocking".
He added: "This was a horrifying case.
"This was not a lapse on the part of the defendants. It was a long and sustained period of criminal negligence.
"I find it impossible to say that more parent was to blame than the other. They were both equally responsible and they were both equally culpable.
"(Kaylea) would not allow people so much as to push her wheelchair or open a door for her. Everything she could do for herself, she did...but she died just after her 16th birthday.
"You, Sarah Lloyd-Jones, her mother, and you, Alun Titford, her father, caused her death by shocking and prolonged neglect over lockdown.
"Which you, by your guilty plea, Sarah Lloyd-Jones, and the jury by a unanimous verdict, Alun Titford, have proved to be gross negligence manslaughter on your part.
"Both defendants were aware that help was available from a variety of agencies, but they did not make full use of that help as time went on.
"By the end, they were not accessing or accepting any significant help at all for Kaylea.
"The whole burden of looking after her therefore fell on them. But this was not for reasons beyond their control. It was part of their gross negligence towards the wellbeing of their daughter."
Titford will serve five years in custody before being released on licence while his wife will serve four.
An NSPCC Cymru spokesperson said: “This is an incredibly distressing case.
“The conscious, prolonged neglect of Kaylea Titford by her parents, Sarah Lloyd-Jones and Alun Titford, ultimately caused the teenager’s death.
“People will be asking how any child in our society could suffer like this without anyone intervening to prevent such a tragedy.
“The forthcoming Child Safeguarding Practice Review must leave no stone unturned in establishing what more could have been done to protect Kaylea so other children do not suffer such appalling neglect unnoticed.”
