investigation Parents face charges after morbidly obese daughter (16) found dead in her bed 

Two parents have appeared in court after their morbidly obese daughter was found dead in her bed.

Kaylea Titford (16) died in her family home in Newtown, Powys, in Wales in October 2020.

Alun Titford and Sarah Lloyd-Jones have been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), alleging that they failed to ensure she received “reasonable medical help”.

It is alleged that between March 24 and October 11 2020, Titford (44) and Lloyd-Jones (39) did not ensure that the teenager's dietary needs were properly met, leading to morbid obesity.

Both parents, of Colwyn, Newtown, are also charged with gross negligence between March and October that year and causing or allowing the death of a child.

They appeared before magistrates in Welshpool on Tuesday, where the court was told that they breached their duty of care for the teenager.

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”.

Standing side by side in the dock wearing face masks, neither entered pleas and spoke only 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, who was immobile, suffered “multiple medical issues” through her life.

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 its 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.”