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Pregnant ex-Folkestone teenager Jayden Parkinson 'murdered by controlling ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley' from Reading in Didcot in Oxfordshire, court told

14:00, 23 June 2014

A man murdered his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend from Kent after discovering she was pregnant with his child, a court heard today.

Ben Blakeley is accused of murdering Jayden Parkinson, whose body was found in a graveyard in Didcot, Oxfordshire.

The 22-year-old has admitted killing the teenager - who used to live in Folkestone - and disposing of her body, but denies murder.

Teenager Jayden Parkinson used to live in Tennyson Place in Folkestone
Teenager Jayden Parkinson used to live in Tennyson Place in Folkestone

Miss Parkinson was seen on camera leaving a hostel in Oxford where she had been staying on December 3 last year.

Jurors at Oxford Crown Court were told other CCTV footage showed her at Didcot station with Blakeley.

Two weeks later, her body was found in disturbed grave in a church cemetery.

Prosecutors allege Miss Parkinson was killed by Blakeley on the evening of her disappearance in open countryside.

He is alleged to have been told when they met that Miss Parkinson was pregnant with his child.

Flowers placed at the grave of Jayden Parkinson at St Martin's Church in Cheriton
Flowers placed at the grave of Jayden Parkinson at St Martin's Church in Cheriton

Jurors were told Blakeley was an "obsessive and controlling character" who regularly beat his former girlfriend.

Police earlier revealed a post-mortem examination showed Miss Parkinson died as a result of "pressure to the neck".

Blakeley, from Reading, is standing trial for murder alongside a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The youth has pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice, but denies preventing a lawful burial.

Jayden Parkinson was murdered by ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley
Jayden Parkinson was murdered by ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley

Jayden's funeral was held at St Martin's Church in Horn Street, Cheriton, in January.

Hundreds of mourners gathered before the teenager was laid to rest in the church cemetery surrounded by flowers.

Jayden and her family lived in Tennyson Place, Folkestone, before moving away several years ago.

Meanwhile, the Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the Thames Valley Police response to Jayden's disappearance.

The trial continues.

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