Jury hears how student, 15, fled her attackers half naked before death

A GIRL of 15 was raped and murdered by a gardener after she had been groomed by his neighbour, a court heard yesterday.

Jurors were told Kayleigh Haywood spent her last terrifying hours alive trapped with killer Stephen Beadman, 28, and pal Luke Harlow, 27.

The teenager tried to escape Harlow’s flat in the middle of the night but was chased and caught by Beadman, jurors were told.

He then allegedly marched her half-naked through freezing woods where he raped her before battering her to death with a rock.

Kayleigh’s body was found dumped in undergrowth with head injuries so severe she could only be identified by dental records.

The court heard yesterday that the teenager was the “last in a line” of young girls groomed online by Harlow.

Using the name “Fun Times”, he bombarded her with compliments and flirty messages which gradually became more explicit.

One read: “We need to have drinks soon babe so I can get you drunk and take advantage. I’ll be nice baby, honest. If you get too drunk you’ll have to stay at mine.”

He eventually persuaded Kayleigh, from Measham, Leics, to stay at his home five miles away in Ibstock one Friday night.

Her dad Martin dropped her off outside the local college, thinking she was staying with her best friend.

But she went instead to Harlow’s flat, where prosecutor Miranda Moore QC said she was given a “substantial amount of alcohol”.

Kayleigh texted her parents the next morning to ask if she could stay another night, Nottingham crown court heard.

But Ms Moore claimed she was then held against her will by Harlow and Beadman from around 9pm that night, when her phone suddenly stopped sending messages.

Neighbours reported loud bangs and screaming from the flat before Kayleigh tried to escape half- naked at around 3am, the prosecutor claimed.

She told jurors: “She was clearly running away. At some point, far from being this drunk, compliant girl, Kayleigh became someone who wanted to get out.”

She went on: “Kayleigh made her way out of that flat partially clothed.

“No trousers, pants or shoes. What happens to her in that property to make her flee into the night?”

Beadman was then seen by another local pinning Kayleigh to the ground outside.

But the witness thought he was a cop making an arrest as he was wearing a jacket with a reflective strip.

Ms Moore said Beadman then forced Kayleigh to the woods after he “realised he had been seen”.

Kayleigh’s smashed iPhone was later found near the pair’s adjoining flats and a search was launched after her mum Stephanie reported her missing. Beadman and Harlow were later arrested.

Harlow, who had “lumps and bumps” on his head and body, told cops he fell asleep and woke to find the other two had gone.

Beadman, who had scratches to his face, eventually admitted he had killed Kayleigh and told cops where her body was.

He claimed he and Kayleigh had kissed in the flat, and the next thing he could remember was being on top of her outside. Beadman said he then took her into a country park where he raped her.

He claimed he walked her through fields while she was upset. He then said she hit him in the face with a rock or brick and he retaliated by throwing one to the side of her head.

As Kayleigh tried to get up, he hit her again with a rock, he said.

After the killing, Beadman attempted to destroy his clothes on a bonfire, and hid Kayleigh’s items in a storage yard. The jury was told Kayleigh’s injuries were “inconsistent” with Beadman’s story.

Ms Moore added: “The prosecution say he has not given a truthful account. He has tried to paint an account that puts him in a better light.”

Beadman and Harlow both deny false imprisonment. Beadman admitted Kayleigh’s rape and murder at a previous hearing.

Harlow admits grooming Kayleigh, and sexual activity with her, and attempting to meet another girl after grooming. Trial continues.

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