Bereaved mother criticises police over couple in Leeds high rise plunge

Steven Parker, 23, and Kiran Creevy, 20, fell from the 12th floor of the flats in Clyde Court, Wortley, Leeds, on Wednesday, after police – who were responding to a call – had entered the flat.

Mr Parker’s mother Debbie Cohen, 45, paid tribute to her son and his girlfriend but claimed she was not told about her son’s death until she arrived at the scene nearly 10 hours later.

She said: “A friend of mine called me and told me I should go to the flats, I had no idea what had happened. It was on the news before I knew.

“I didn’t find out until 3pm, I’m disgusted the police handled it so badly.”

Mrs Cohen said her son and Kiran, who was known as Kizzy, had frequent break-ups during their two-and-a-half year relationship due to Kiran’s depression.

She said: “In the end they couldn’t live with each other and they couldn’t live without each other.

“I still don’t know all the details of what happened, but I know Kizzy jumped and Steven followed her. I can’t imagine what went through his head. He found her depression quite hard.

“They say there was a suicide note, but I haven’t seen it.”

Mrs Cohen went on: “Their generation has so little to live for, no jobs, no prospects. I feel sorry for the kids today.

“Steven was a lovely lad, he was so loving and loyal. We will miss him so much.”

The grandmother of two, from Leeds, said her son was due to be a father in 10 weeks, as ex-girlfriend Janice Warren, 18, is pregnant.

She said: “He started seeing a girl when he last broke up with Kizzy and she’s pregnant. He so wanted a child, that’s the only thing I can’t understand.”

West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that officers were called to the Clyde Court block in Wortley shortly after 4am on Wednesday and were entering the flat as the apparent double suicide took place.

The matter has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Last night a police spokesman said: “We acknowledge that we were not able to contact Mrs Cohen as quickly as we would have liked, however, considerable effort was made to trace her via other immediate family members who had already been informed of these tragic circumstances.

“We are working closely with both families to provide support during this difficult time and we regret the distress caused to Mrs Cohen.”