Parents Charged with Manslaughter of Obese Daughter Lived in Room 'Not Fit For Animals'

The parents of Kaylea Titford are facing manslaughter charges after their 16 year old daughter grew to nearly 23 stone.

The court heard how Laylea was found with maggots in and around the bed where she slept, as well as on her person.
Author: Claire BoadPublished 18th Jan 2023

Parents of 16-year-old Kaylea Titford assisted in her death after allowing her to grow to nearly 23 stone during lockdown, a court has heard.

Kaylea was allegedly neglected, becoming obese and having to live in a filthy adapted bedroom in the weeks before she died.

She suffered from spina bifida and was wheelchair-bound. Before lockdown, she was seen as 'fiercely independent' and took part in PE lessons from her wheelchair at school.

Kaylea had not seen a doctor nine months befor she died despite having multiple health problems and had reportadly not been washed for weeks.

She was later found dead in her bed by her mother on October 10th 2020 at her home in Newtown, Powys.

Her Father Alun Titford, 45, has been accused of gross negligence manslaughter and causing death of a child.

He claims he was shocked by his daughter's death, and says Kaylea's care was her mother, Sarah Lloyd Jones's responsibility.

Lloyd Jones has admitted to blame and has plead guilty to the same charges placed against Alun Titford.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told Mold Crown Court "The duty of care was on both of them and the prosecution says that he must have, or should have known, of the environment in which she slept and ate and the physically degrading condition she was in.

"He lived in that house so he must have known, and he did nothing about it, say the prosecution, and then he cannot wash his hands of it."

Rees said Kaylea had not had her nails cut for six months prior to her death and that "well grown" maggots were found in her body around her buttocks and legs.

Ms Rees said: "These maggots were there in life and death.

"Her living conditions were not only foul but her physical condition was awful too."

The jury was told there were more than 100 flies on fly paper in Kaylea's room and there were traces of fly excrement on her chair hoist.

Mr Titford denies manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial is expected to last four weeks and continues tomorrow.

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