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A sex fiend who locked up a 15-year-old girl before raping and killing her after she fled for her life has been jailed for life.

Stephen Beadman and neighbour Luke Harlow subjected Kayleigh Haywood to a six-hour sexual attack inside Harlow's flat before she managed to escape semi-clothed.

Beadman, 29, then led her to a secluded field before raping and murdering her.

She had been lured to the flat in Ibstock, Leicestershire, after Harlow - who described himself on Twitter as a 'professional serial killer' on Twitter - had groomed Haywood on Facebook before luring her to his flat.

Judge Mrs Justice Cox described the horrific killing as "every parents worst nightmare".

(Image: Leicester Police)

Sentencing Beadman to a minimum of 35 years and Harlow to 12 years behind bars, she warned other youngsters over the dangers of being befriended online.

She told Nottingham Crown Court: "It seems to me this is every parent's worst nightmare.

"It is absolutely clear to me absolutely no blame can be attached to them for what happened.

(Image: Leicester Police)

“This case has shown once again the dangers of to which young users of online and social media are exposed, to the grief and bewilderment of unsuspecting parents.

“Kayleigh was subjected to a cruel and horrifying ordeal by you that night.

“The pain, terror and anguish which would have been suffered by this young girl are truly horrifying to contemplate.”

Kayleigh's heartbroken family burst into tears and hugged in the public gallery as the sentences were read out.

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Her family had reported her missing three days before her body was found in November last year.

Hours after dumping her body, Beadman researched methods to quickly decompose a body online.

(Image: PA)

Mrs Justice Cox continued: “Kayleigh was young, had been groomed and had been drinking.

“After you killed Kayleigh you searched online for ‘lime pit’. This is chilling.

“You waited 3 days before telling police what you had done.

"In those days Kayleigh was a missing person and her family and friends at their wits end.”

(Image: SWNS)

Beadman pleaded guilty to rape and murder but had denied false imprisonment.

Harlow admitted grooming and sexually assaulting Kayleigh but had also denied false imprisonment.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Kayleigh's mum Stephanie described the pair as "evil" and said they'd robbed her of the chance to watch her daughter grow up.

(Image: SWNS)

She said: "These evil people have given us a lifetime of utter destruction and heartache.

“I have been robbed of my daughter and robbed of my last goodbye. My heart is completely shattered.

"Not only was I robbed of my daughter, I was robbed of saying my last goodbye to her too."

(Image: Leicester Police)

Prosecutor Miranda Moore QC told the judge Kayleigh's body had 46 "separate sites of injury" which included 16 blows to the front of her face and six to the back of her head.

Ms Moore said this meant she could not be identified in the usual way.

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The perverts showed little emotion when interviewed by police after being arrested in November last year.

Harlow said "yeah, I know..." when asked how old he was and how old Kayleigh was.

He went on to admit he and the 15-year-old "did stuff" but denied imprisoning her.

Beadman claimed he had "no idea" where Kayleigh was as police questioned him during the missing person search.

With visible scratches on his face, Bedman later told officers he "couldn't remember" why Kayleigh had fled the house and that he had only been kissing her.