THE last time Desiree Baldwin saw her daughter Jenna they argued and the teenager walked out with out saying goodbye, a court heard.

The tearful mother, whose husband Michael Baldwin is on trial for Jenna's murder, told jurors she cooked a special meal for the 15-year-old who had left the family home in Ffrwd Road, Abersychan, to live with an aunt.

But the September 2 visit ended abruptly when Jenna swore at her and walked out.

"I saw her once that week," she said. "I cooked her favourite meal and I went into kitchen and she was singing and happy even though I was going through hell because she wasn't going to school. I said 'Jenna, Are you going to go to school?' and she said '**** off'.

"I just flipped and said 'Jenna you are not going to have that meal' so she just went into the fridge and got a pasty and went back out."

Desiree, aged 40, of Limekiln Road, Pontnewynydd, also told the court her husband Mike was "spiteful" towards Jenna and her brother Josh.

She added the teenager grew up almost overnight after a family holiday.

"Jenna was a very quiet girl until she was 12. We went on holiday to Corfu, she just seemed to grow up overnight."

Michael Baldwin, 36, denies murderering Jenna between September 3 and 11 last year.

Proceeding

* In the picture: Jenna's mum Desiree arriving to give evidence