Jordan Burling death: Father says son was 'pale and drawn'

Jordan Burling, 18, died at the home he shared with his mother and grandmother on 30 June 2016

The father of a man who died after being found in a emaciated state has told a court his son was pale and drawn the last time he saw him alive.

Jordan Burling, 18, went into cardiac arrest and died at his Leeds home on 30 June 2016.

Paramedics called to the house told the jury they found him wearing a soiled nappy and weighing less than six stone (37kg).

His mother, grandmother and sister deny Jordan's manslaughter.

Steven Burling, 51, told the jury at Leeds Crown Court he separated from Jordan's mother Dawn Cranston when his son was in primary school and did not see him again until he was in his mid-teens.

Ms Cranston, 45, Jordan's grandmother Denise Cranston, 70, and his sister Abigail Burling, 25, all deny killing Jordan.

They also deny an alternative count of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

Denise Cranston, 70, Abigail Burling, 25, and Dawn Cranston, 45, all deny manslaughter

Mr Burling said he last saw his son Jordan alive just before Christmas 2015.

"He looked pale," Mr Burling said.

"He was drawn in a little bit. I asked him if he was all right. He said it must be something he's ate. He looked poorly."

Mr Burling became upset in court as he recalled his last meeting with his son at his home in the Seacroft area of Leeds.

'Black teeth'

Asked about Dawn Cranston's parenting in the years they were together, Mr Burling said she was "a good mum, a caring mum".

The court later heard Jordan had developmental and behavioural concerns as a young child, but his parents missed several appointments looking to address these.

A 2002 primary school report stated there was a "general neglect of his basic needs", with Jordan lacking toilet training, having "black teeth", little language skills and had socks stuffed in the front of his shoes to compensate for them being too big.

The court heard in June of that year the family were evicted from their home for rent arrears and Steven went to live with his father in Seacroft.

Mr Burling said there was a "long gap" where he didn't see his children after the split and admitted to the court he should have maintained better contact.

Paramedics were called to the home Jordan shared with his mother and grandmother in June 2016

The trial also heard from Steven's sister Sandra Burling, who lived with Mr Burling and her brother Michael in Seacroft in 2015.

Discussing Jordan's visit about six months before his death, she told the court: "He looked very ill, his skin was tight to his face and he was quite gaunt.

"His breathing was very shallow, he sat down on the sofa and it was like he was trying to catch his breath.

"I told him, 'you need to go and get yourself checked'. He didn't really respond."

Michael Burling told the court they were checking with Abigail Burling to see how Jordan was in the following weeks and were told "he was fine".

After Jordan's death, Dawn Cranston and Abigail Burling came to the house in Seacroft "because they wanted to know what Steven had said to police", Michael Burling told the court.

He continued: "The impression I got of Dawn was it was like she wasn't grieving."

The trial continues.