Stephen Beadman, the predator responsible for grooming and murdering Kayleigh Haywood, has died at HMP Wakefield. Kayleigh, from Measham, Leicestershire, was only 15 years old when she was killed in November 2015. Her body was discovered in a hedgerow following a five-day manhunt that shocked the nation.
In 2016, Beadman was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years for the rape and murder of Kayleigh. He also admitted to falsely imprisoning her. The court heard that Kayleigh had been groomed online and had agreed to stay at a flat in the village of Ibstock. In the early hours of November 15, Beadman chased her down, raped her, and then brutally beat her to death.
Kayleigh had also been in contact with Luke Harlow, a friend of Beadman’s, exchanging hundreds of messages in the weeks leading up to the attack. The horrific assault took place in Harlow’s flat. Harlow was sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually touching, falsely imprisoning Kayleigh, and grooming her along with two other girls.
The Prison Service has confirmed that Beadman died at HMP Wakefield and has informed the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. However, the cause of death has not been made public and remains a matter for the coroner.
Originally published by UKNIP.
