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Jake Blakeley, of Didcot, near Oxford, jailed for part in concealing murder of Folkestone teen Jayden Parkinson killed by Ben Blakeley, of Reading
15:00, 10 March 2015
updated: 15:15, 10 March 2015
The brother of a man convicted of killing former Folkestone teen Jayden Parkinson was today jailed for perverting the course of justice.
Jake Blakeley had admitted the charge last June but was sentenced to three years in prison at Oxford Crown Court this afternoon.
Blakeley, 18, of Venners Waters in Didcot, Oxfordshire, was only sentenced today after going on trial twice charged with preventing the lawful burial of Jayden after his 23-year-old brother, Ben, killed her in December 2013.
Ben was found guilty and jailed for life last July.
But two juries failed to return verdicts on Jake when he went on trial and subsequently at his retrial earlier this year.
Jayden, who was 17 when she died, used to live in Tennyson Place in Folkestone before moving to Oxfordshire, was laid to rest at St Martin's Church in Cheriton.
Det Insp Craig Kirby of Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Unit said: "He knew he was helping his brother to conceal a criminal act but that he did not know he was helping to bury Jayden Parkinson’s body.
“Whilst I am disappointed that the jury were unable to reach a verdict in respect of the preventing the lawful burial charge, the hung jury demonstrates the difficulties that the investigation faced in piecing together what happened on December 3, 2013 and over the following week.
“I would like to pay my respects to Jayden and thank her family and friends, many of whom who have had to give evidence in court.
"I want to recognise the courage of all the witnesses in this case and of Jayden’s loved-ones who have shown immense courage throughout our investigation and subsequent trials, our thoughts remain with them at this time.
“I would also like to thank all the police officers and staff who have worked on this complex case, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service, who the Force has worked with very closely.
“Even unwittingly Jake Blakeley assisted his brother Ben to conceal Jayden’s body after she was murdered, assistance which in the words of His Honour Judge Eccles, ‘prolonged the agony of Jayden’s family’. I believe today’s sentence reflects the severity of this.”