HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE BY JACQUELINE TITTERTON AND MICHAEL ADAMS IN DERBY AND NORMANTON

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Derby, Beeston, and Normanton, the harrowing story of two parents, Jacqueline Titterton and Michael Adams, who subjected their three children to two decades of unimaginable cruelty has finally come to light. The abuse, which spanned from 1971 to 1991, remained hidden for 17 years before the children, now adults, found the courage to reveal the full extent of their suffering in court.

Every day at 5:45 pm, the parents would lock their children in separate rooms, with the windows nailed shut to prevent escape or outside interference. The conditions inside these rooms were appalling: mattresses soaked in urine and infested with maggots were strewn across the floors, which lacked carpets or curtains. The children were forced to use a single bucket as a toilet, and after each use, they had to dispose of their waste in the morning, often using wallpaper or clothing as makeshift toilet paper. These conditions led to severe neglect and hygiene issues, which caused the children to be teased at school for their smell, ragged clothing, and evident malnutrition.

Both parents were physically abusive, wielding implements ranging from mops to sewing needles to beat their children. Despite the severity of the abuse, Jacqueline Titterton and Michael Adams managed to keep it hidden from authorities for many years. They would keep children home from school to avoid detection, refuse social workers access, and prevent doctors from examining the children, effectively concealing the ongoing torment.

The abuse persisted over a period of 20 years, with the children enduring daily violence and neglect. It was only after years of silence that they found the strength to speak out, sharing their experiences with police. When they finally appeared in Derby Crown Court, the truth was laid bare. The daughter, who chose to give her testimony behind a screen for protection, described her mother as “horrible, she was nasty, she was vindictive and she was evil.” She recounted being beaten daily, instilling a deep sense of fear and helplessness. “I was absolutely terrified of my parents – both of them,” she said. “She was volatile and unpredictable. There was no build-up – there was just violence. She dragged me by my hair, punched me in the face and kicked me from the age of three. She was a monster, she is a nasty manipulative person. It was daily – from a very early age I could spot the sort of mood she was in by the look on her face.”

Her brother, aged 33, also testified about the brutal treatment they endured. He described how the family’s homes across Derby, including locations in Chaddesden, Allenton, Alvaston, and Sunny Hill, were places of constant squalor. He recounted that the doors were locked, the windows nailed shut, and the children were left with no means of escape. He described his mother as frequently drunk, and how he was beaten with belts, sticks, or simply his hands. “There were locks on the doors, the windows were nailed shut – there was no escape,” he said. “She was always drunk. I was dressed like a tramp and she used to beat me – I remember blows to the head.”

He further revealed that his mother ignored their pleas for help and dismissed their injuries, even when they told her about the physical abuse inflicted by Adams. “She knew what was happening but didn’t care. I didn’t want to live with her and I didn’t want to live with him,” he stated. The ongoing violence and neglect left deep scars, both physical and emotional, that have haunted him into adulthood. He also disclosed that his father’s cruelty extended beyond the home, mentioning an affair his father had with his girlfriend while their baby was only four months old.

Another brother, also giving evidence behind a screen, described the extent of the physical abuse he suffered. He recounted being beaten with various objects, including mop handles and broomsticks, and having bruises all over his body. “We were hungry to the point where people would give us food or we would steal it from school or other people’s houses,” he said. “She spent the money that should have been used to feed us down the pub.” The house was in a constant state of disorder, and the children were often unkempt and dirty, further subject to ridicule at school.

Despite the overwhelming evidence from their children, Jacqueline Titterton denied any wrongdoing. She insisted she never physically abused her children and claimed that her job working with children proved her innocence. “I used to slap my children and shout at them but if God could strike me dead I have never treated them like that,” she said. She also claimed to have been a victim of her husband’s violence, asserting that she was regularly beaten by Adams. Titterton expressed her fear of Adams, saying, “To this day, I’m still scared of that man – I didn’t tell social services what happened to me – I went through 11 years of beatings. I thought they would take my children away from me.”

She further denied the allegations of neglect, asserting that her children were kept clean and well-fed. “My children were clean,” she said. “They had food in their stomachs – I never ill-treated my children.” After her separation from Adams, she repeatedly visited her children, asking to have them back, claiming she would have taken action if she had known about the abuse. “I used to go round every day and say, ‘Can I have my kids back?’ If I knew these things were going on, I would have taken my children and phoned the police,” she insisted.

Lavine Adams, the youngest daughter aged 27, provided her perspective in her mother’s defense. She stated she could not recall any beatings by either parent and claimed that the doors and windows were not locked or nailed shut. “The doors were not locked, the windows were not nailed shut. She’s told me off but that’s not physical abuse,” she said. She described herself as always being clean and attending a special school, where issues like abuse would have been identified. She also mentioned that her father used to swear at her and hit her hands, and that her mother was often frightened of him.

Prosecutor Andy Easteal summarized the case, emphasizing the parents’ failure in their responsibilities. “The fact she was their mother was more than just biology. She had a real and continuing responsibility for their care and welfare and she failed hugely and grotesquely and with devastating consequences,” he said. He praised the courage of the three children for coming forward and speaking out, despite the long years of suffering. The case was described as “disturbing and unsavoury,” and the court heard how Jacqueline Titterton was found guilty of three counts of cruelty, while Michael Adams admitted the same charges along with additional counts of assaulting the two boys.

Judge David Pugsley described the case as among the most distressing he had ever encountered. He condemned the abuse, stating, “I found this case amongst the most distressing I have ever heard. The thought of children being treated in that way – these were not isolated attacks.” The judge highlighted that the abuse occurred over a 20-year period, with both parents regularly hitting each other as well as their children. Although they split up around 1984, they continued to see each other regularly as the children moved between their homes in Derby. Currently, Jacqueline Titterton resides on Pear Tree Street in Normanton, while Michael Adams lives on Austrey Avenue in Beeston.