A mom and father who killed their morbidly overweight daughter with “surprising and extended neglect over lockdown” have been jailed after a decide stated they lacked regret.
Kaylea Titford, 16, was present in situations described as “unfit for any animal”, in dirty clothes and mattress linen, following her demise on the household house in Newtown, Powys, in October 2020.
Sarah Lloyd-Jones, 40, was imprisoned for six years whereas Alun Titford, 45, was informed he would spend seven years and 6 months behind bars.
Lloyd-Jones turned “steadily overwhelmed” and unable to manage in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, her lawyer informed Swansea Crown Court docket on Wednesday.
Sentencing each of {the teenager}’s mother and father, Excessive Court docket Decide Mr Justice Griffiths stated he accepted that “lockdown created uncommon circumstances”.
Nonetheless, Mr Justice Griffiths stated that “neither defendant was minimize off from the surface world”, and that assist would have been out there for Sarah Lloyd-Jones and Alun Titford in caring for his or her daughter had they requested it.
He additionally stated neither defendant had “proven regret that ought to rely as vital mitigation”.
The decide added: “Alan Titford pleaded not responsible, and even to the writer of the pre-sentence report blamed his accomplice, and even his daughter.
“Sarah Lloyd-Jones pleaded responsible and can get credit score for that. However Dr Tizzard’s report and the pre-sentence report present that she nonetheless continues to attempt to shift blame elsewhere and minimise her personal duty.”
The 16-year-old weighed 22st 13lb, with a BMI of 70, on the time of her demise.
It was the primary sentencing listening to in Wales to be filmed because the legislation was modified to permit cameras into crown courts final yr.
Lloyd-Jones had beforehand pleaded responsible to manslaughter by gross negligence whereas Titford was convicted of the identical offence after trial.
His trial heard Kaylea, who had spina bifida and used a wheelchair, died after struggling irritation and an infection from ulceration, arising from weight problems and immobility.
Emergency service staff, who had been referred to as to the home after she was discovered on October 10, described feeling sick because of a “rotting” scent in her room.
Following her demise, maggots had been discovered which had been thought to have been feeding on her physique, the jury was informed.
The courtroom heard that her bedsheets had been dirty and she or he was mendacity on numerous pet rest room coaching pads.
Her room was stated to be soiled and cluttered, with bottles of urine and a chip fryer with drips of fats down the facet, in addition to a full cake in a field.
Kaylea had attended Newtown Excessive College, the place she was described as “humorous and chatty” by workers, however didn’t return following the coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.
Requested throughout his proof why he had let his daughter down so badly, the removing employee stated: “I am lazy.”
Titford, who had six youngsters with Lloyd-Jones, stated the household would order takeaways 4 or 5 nights every week and he thought Kaylea had placed on two or three stone since March.
The prosecution alleged that Kaylea had not used her wheelchair, which turned too small for her, because the begin of lockdown.
Caroline Rees KC, prosecuting, requested Titford: “She hadn’t been away from bed, had she?”
However he claimed he had seen her within the kitchen of the home in her wheelchair throughout that interval, regardless of telling police in interview that he had not seen her away from bed.
The courtroom heard that Kaylea had been discharged from physiotherapy and dietetics providers within the years earlier than her demise and had final been seen by a social employee at house in 2017.
Titford claimed Lloyd-Jones, who was a group care employee, was accountable for taking care of Kaylea.
He stated he used to take her to medical appointments and take care of her however stepped again when she reached puberty as he was not “snug”.
In cross-examination he accepted he was as a lot responsible for Kaylea’s demise as her mom.
