https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10640031/Parents-charged-killing-obese-16-year-old-daughter-dead-bed.htmlParents appear in court charged with killing their overweight 16-year-old daughter by allowing her to become morbidly obese after she was found dead in her bed
Kaylea Titford, 16, died in her family home in Newtown, Powys, in October 2020
Her parents Alun Titford and Sarah Lloyd-Jones have been charged by the CPS
It's claimed they caused her death by allowing her to become morbidly obese
The charges allege they failed to ensure she received 'reasonable medical help'
By Matthew Lodge For Mailonline
Published: 14:59, 22 March 2022 | Updated: 15:42, 22 March 2022
Two parents have appeared in court charged with killing their overweight 16-year-old daughter by allowing her to become morbidly obese. Teenager Kaylea Titford died from health problems linked to her weight - and was found dead in bed by her mother at the family home in Newtown, Powys, Wales, in October 2020. Father Alun Titford, 44, and mother Sarah Lloyd-Jones, 39, have been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person. It is alleged that the pair, of Colwyn, Newtown, between March 24 and October 11, 2020, failed to ensure Ms Titford's dietary needs were met, leading to morbid obesity. The charge also states 'nor did they ensure she got enough exercise, was in a hygienic condition, had a safe and hygienic environment, her physical health was maintained, or that reasonable medical help was sought.'
The parents appeared before Welshpool Magistrates' Court today, to face the charges. They stood side by side in the dock wearing face masks. Neither entered pleas but spoke to confirm their names, ages and address. Prosecutor Helen Tench asked both defendants to remain on conditional bail and not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18. They will next appear before Mold Crown Court on April 14, 2022. An earlier inquest heard spina bifida sufferer Kaylea suffered 'multiple medical issues' through her life and was immobile. Kaylea was pronounced dead by paramedics at 8.12am on October 10, 2020, at her home in Newtown, Powys. A medical cause of death was given as 'inflammation and infection in extensive areas of ulceration arising from obesity and it's complications in a girl with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.'
Coroner Graeme Hughes adjourned the inquest in Pontypridd, South Wales, until the conclusion of the criminal investigation. He said: 'While the medical cause of death was proposed by Dr James may itself be natural, the circumstances precipitating Kaleigh's death are under investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police. As such those investigations give me reason to suspect that Kaleigh's death may be unnatural, in that a natural cause of death may be considered unnatural where there is some culpable human involvement or contribution to that death.'
