A Perth couple has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after a court found they severely neglected their teenage daughter, leaving her dangerously malnourished.

The parents, both in their forties, were convicted of reckless neglect over a two-year period. During that time, their daughter, now 20, weighed just 27 kilograms at age 17. Doctors warned she could have died without urgent treatment.

The court heard the girl followed a strict vegan diet and was homeschooled. Ballet was her only activity outside the home. Despite clear signs of poor health, her parents resisted medical care and dismissed concerns raised by teachers and doctors.

A judge said the girl showed extreme physical underdevelopment. She had never begun menstruation and appeared skeletal in photographs. Medical experts later diagnosed her with severe, life-threatening malnutrition.

The father received a sentence of six years and six months. The mother was jailed for five years. The judge said both parents chose to ignore obvious warning signs and failed to meet their daughter’s basic needs.

During sentencing, the daughter pleaded for leniency. She told the court she feared homelessness if her parents were jailed and blamed herself for their situation. The judge rejected that view, saying responsibility lay squarely with the parents.

After child protection authorities intervened, the girl spent weeks in hospital. With treatment, she gained weight and grew taller. Professionals also noted she had been treated like a much younger child, despite normal intelligence.

The case has sparked renewed discussion about parental responsibility and the serious consequences of neglect, even when intentions are claimed to be loving.