Man found in soiled nappy and weighing just six stone left to 'rot to death' by family, court hears
Police also discovered remains of newborn baby stuffed in rucksack during search of Leeds home
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An 18-year-old man found weighing less than six stone, wearing a soiled nappy and covered in pressure sores, was left to “rot to death by his family”, a court has heard.
Paramedics found Jordan Burling lying on a filthy inflatable mattress, where he had been “allowed to decay” for several weeks at his Leeds home.
Prosecutors, who likened his body to that of a Second World War concentration camp prisoner, allege he died as a result of malnutrition, immobility and infection-riddled sores.
His mother, Dawn Cranston, 45, sister Abigail Burling, 25, and 70-year-old grandmother Denise Cranston, appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday accused of his manslaughter.
The jury was also told the remains of Dawn Cranston’s full-term baby were found stuffed in a rucksack at the house.
“What met the eyes of the paramedics was a shocking and disturbing scene,” prosecutor Nicholas Lumley QC said opening the case.
“Jordan was lying, utterly helpless, on an inflatable mattress in a cluttered living room. He was little more than skin and bones, he weighed 37kg – less than six stones. He wore a soiled nappy under some pyjamas.”
“The expert dietician said they had never seen such malnutrition in 26 years and likened the condition of the body to that found in WWII extermination camps.
“His heart stopped, his life could not be saved; he expired in that living room.
“For reasons which may never be understood, Jordan had been allowed to decay, to rot to death, by those closest to him for at least several weeks.
“There was no other reason for his death, no natural or other illness, apart from the conditions created for him by the accused.”
Jurors were told Mr Burling had lived a relatively normal life until he was taken out of school at the age of 16 and home-schooled by his mother.
The court heard he had not been known to be suffering from an illness or medical condition that could have caused his rapid decline in health and eventual death in June 2016.
Prosecutors also said his father, Steven Burling, with whom he had limited contact, had enquired several times about his son’s condition, but was never allowed to see the true extent of his suffering.
Mr Lumley told the court Mr Burling died from acute bronchopneumonia, a result of his malnutrition, immobility and infection-riddled sores, despite paramedics spending 50 minutes performing CPR on him.
He also described the disturbing find of a baby’s remains when police searched the family’s property.
The child of Dawn Cranston and Steven Burling had grown to full term in the womb, but it could not be established if he was born dead or alive, he said.
“Within what would have been Jordan’s bedroom, officers found a small rucksack, within which were plastic bags inside plastic bags,” he added.
The baby’s bones were then discovered inside the “rancid smelling” bag, he said.
The three woman sat quietly in the dock all facing a principal charge of manslaughter and an alternative charge of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable person, both of which they all deny.
Dawn Cranston pleaded guilty to concealing birth of a child by secretly disposing of body.