She told them that she would see them on Saturday, when she would bring the presents round.At just after 10 o'clock the following morning, a postman called at Karen's house with a parcel. There was no sign of the mother and he spoke to her youngest, three-year-old Jayden. But Karen loved the internet and had set up a small business from home selling gifts. While there was never enough money for family holidays, her parents would sometimes take the older two away in their caravan. Very occasionally, she would go to the pub in the evening with friends, all of them bringing their children, babies included.

Karen wasn't unusual in having several children at such a young age They would arrive around seven and be gone by 10pm. Karen also made sure that she was presentable, taking time to do her make-up and wear nice clothes She attended every parents' evening Nobody knew how she coped. But she appeared to do so, and never complained.Friends described her as devoted to her children and a woman who never needed to shout at them When told that enough was enough, they listened. They played happily together, as well as with the other children on the estate. Karen sometimes joined them on her roller skates.With five children to look after, there wasn't much time for herself. Not only were the children always on time for school, but their uniforms were always washed and pressed. Karen accepted help from her parents, Roy and Lorna Russon, who lived a 10-minute drive away in Tividale, where she grew up They often took the two older boys for the weekend.

She had one older and one younger sister and the family was close.Otherwise, Karen was fiercely independent, preferring to do things on her own And, by all accounts, she did a marvellous job. She did well in her GCSEs.Her children were born to three different fathers, who were not seen on the new estate. After giving birth to her first child at the age of 14, she attended a school run by Sandwell council, which allowed mothers to learn while their children were looked after in an on-site cr?e. Friends and family said she always made the best of every situation she found herself in. She decorated the kitchen and bathroom the way she liked it, and the children's bedrooms were also finished.The pride she took over her home was typical.