Parents who were convicted of the gross negligence manslaughter of their morbidly obese 16-year-old daughter have had their jail sentences increased.
Alun Titford and Sarah Lloyd-Jones, who killed tragic Kaylea Titford, will now spend 10 years and eight years respectively in prison.
Lord Justice Popplewell, sitting at Court of Appeal today, said the teenager was Kaylea was living in unimaginable squalor."
The parents allowed the disabled teen to become unwell, and let her weight increase to 22st 13lb.
She was discovered sitting up in her bedroom in Newtown, Powys, in October 2020.
Her 45-year-old 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 40-year-old mother, Sarah Lloyd-Jones, pleaded guilty to the same charges in December.
Titford was originally jailed for seven years and six months and his partner was caged for six years. These, though, were increased significantly today.
William Emlyn Jones KC, representing the Attorney General's Office (AGO) at Court of Appeal today, said: "By virtue of the combination of the duration of the neglect, the nature of the victim's prolonged suffering, the extent of the victim's vulnerability and absolute dependence on her parents for care, and ultimately, the appalling conditions in which she was left to live and ultimately die, this is an offence which falls into the definition of 'extreme'."
Shortly before Kaylea died, Titford heard her screaming and instead of checking on his daughter, sent her a text message saying 'stop it'.
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.
Court of Appeal heard today the circumstances leading to Kaylea's death "can only be categorised as extreme".
Lloyd-Jones watched by video link from prison, but Titford was not present as their sentences were increased to eight years and 10 years respectively by Lord Justice Popplewell, sitting with Mrs Justice McGowan and His Honour Judge Bate.
Lord Popplewell said: "The circumstances can only be categorised as extreme, Kaylea was living in unimaginable squalor."
Speaking during the original court case, Caroline Rees KC, prosecuting the couple, had said Kaylea was living in conditions unfit for any animal.
"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," the lawyer said.
"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."
