BEN BLAKELEY FROM DIDCOT SENTENCED FOR MURDER OF TEENAGER JAYDEN PARKINSON IN READING

Ben Blakeley, a man originally from Reading, has been handed a life sentence in prison for the brutal murder of 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson, who was tragically pregnant with his child at the time of her death. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing account of how Blakeley committed this heinous act, which has left a community in shock and a family devastated.

According to court records, Blakeley strangled Jayden in a fit of jealous rage after discovering she had been intimate with another man. The court heard that Blakeley admitted to killing her but denied that it was a murder, attempting to downplay the severity of his actions. Nonetheless, the judge sentenced him to serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars, emphasizing the gravity of his crime.

Further evidence presented during the trial painted a disturbing picture of Blakeley's attempts to conceal his crime. It was revealed that he had spun a web of lies to cover up the murder, including the disturbing discovery of a shallow grave nearby where he had strangled Jayden. Additionally, authorities found evidence of another grave in his uncle's land in Didcot, where Blakeley had also prepared a burial site. These actions demonstrated a calculated effort to hide the crime and evade justice.

The judge condemned Blakeley's lack of remorse and his callous attitude throughout the proceedings. Family members of Jayden expressed their profound grief and anger, stating, "We will never be able to find an ounce of forgiveness for the evil that murdered Jayden and then concealed her body in such a cold, calculated and callous manner. For us as a family, today is not the final chapter in this tragedy. We will never be able to celebrate birthdays, Easter or Christmas with Jayden, and we will never get to see Jayden grow up, get married and have children - this is our life sentence, it's now time for Ben Blakeley to start his."

Blakeley's criminal history includes previous acts of violence against girlfriends and allegations of mistreatment. Court records also detailed an incident where he pushed an ex-girlfriend down the stairs, believing she was not the mother of his child. During sentencing, Blakeley showed no visible emotion, further highlighting his cold and unrepentant demeanor. The court also heard that Blakeley had a pattern of controlling and violent behavior, with his brother Jake facing charges related to attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to prevent Jayden’s lawful burial.

Testimony from former girlfriends described Blakeley's violent tendencies and controlling nature, reinforcing the court's view of his character. The case remains under further review by police authorities, who are investigating how reports about Blakeley's conduct were handled prior to the incident. An ongoing inquiry aims to assess whether there were any failures in the system that could have prevented this tragedy from occurring.