DAWN CRANSTON, DENISE CRANSTON, AND ABIGAIL BURLING FROM LEEDS CONVICTED IN SHOCKING CASE OF TEEN'S DEATH
In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Leeds, the mother and grandmother of an 18-year-old man, Jordan Burling, have been found guilty of manslaughter following a tragic and neglectful series of events that led to his death in June 2016.Jordan Burling, who weighed only six stone at the time of his death, was discovered lying on a filthy inflatable mattress within his home in the Farnley area of Leeds.
The state of his body was described as resembling that of a victim from a Second World War death camp, with severe bed sores and signs of extreme malnutrition.
When paramedics arrived, they found him in a critically weakened state, covered in sores, wearing a soiled nappy, and suffering from acute bronchopneumonia, which ultimately caused his death.
Following a trial that lasted five weeks at Leeds Crown Court, the jury unanimously convicted Dawn Cranston, aged 45, and her mother Denise Cranston, aged 70, of manslaughter.
The court heard that these two women, who were responsible for Jordan’s care, had allowed him to decay over a period of several weeks, neglecting his basic needs and health.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s sister, Abigail Burling, aged 25, was acquitted of manslaughter but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable person.
During the proceedings, prosecutor Nicholas Lumley QC described the scene as one of the most shocking cases he had encountered.
He told the jury that Jordan had been left to rot and decay by those closest to him, with evidence indicating that his condition had worsened significantly in the weeks leading up to his death.
A particularly disturbing detail was Dawn Cranston’s own words, as she was heard telling a 999 operator shortly before her son’s death that his unresponsive state was a “blessing,” because it meant she would not have to go to work that day.
Paramedic Bridget Shepherd, who responded to the emergency call, testified that Jordan appeared “very, very pale and very emaciated” when she arrived.
She observed that his bone structure was clearly visible, and Dawn Cranston admitted that her son had not been eating for several weeks.
Witnesses described how Dawn appeared indifferent during the attempt to revive Jordan, while Denise Cranston remained seated in a nearby armchair, seemingly unaffected by the emergency unfolding before her.
Police officers who responded to the scene also provided unsettling accounts.
Police Constable Ben McNamara recounted that upon arriving at the home, Dawn Cranston’s first question was about the cost of the funeral, which he found to be a stark indication of her emotional detachment.
Another officer noted that Dawn seemed overly concerned about refunds for items she had purchased for her son, including a Zimmer frame and American food from Amazon.
Dawn Cranston’s own testimony revealed that her son’s health had begun to decline in April 2016, but she refused to seek medical help, claiming that he had been turned away from the doctor for arriving “a minute late.” She described how Jordan suddenly became immobile, refusing to move from his chair, and expressed her distress, stating, “I did not want him to die.” In a further revelation, Dawn Cranston admitted to attempting to conceal a birth, having hidden the remains of her deceased baby in a rucksack for approximately 14 years.
This disturbing detail added to the gravity of the case, which the Crown Prosecution Service described as “one of the most shocking cases” they had ever handled.
Sentencing for Dawn Cranston and Denise Cranston is scheduled for Thursday, as the court prepares to deliver justice in a case that has left a community in Leeds reeling from the tragic neglect and loss of a young life.
