“My daughter was strangled to death for being pregnant”

When Samantha Shrewsbury’s daughter Jayden began dating Ben Blakeley in December 2012 she had a bad feeling about the relationship.

But she had no idea of the horrifying tragedy that would unfold.

After a year of verbally and physically abusing Jayden, 17, twisted Blakeley – who had a history of domestic abuse - flew into a violent rage when she told him she was pregnant and strangled her to death.

Evil Blakeley, then crammed her remains into a suitcase and hired a taxi to take him to a cemetery in Oxfordshire, where he sickeningly buried her body in his uncle’s grave.

The twisted murderer has now been jailed for life to serve a minimum of 20 years.

But Jayden’s heartbroken mum Samantha, 49, is still struggling to pick up the pieces.

Speaking exclusively to Closer she says: “I still can’t believe Jayden’s gone. I suffer flashbacks about what she must have gone through and struggle to sleep.

“I tried desperately to get her away from Blakeley, but she was young and infatuated. I saw her the day she died and she told me she was pregnant and knew she had to end the relationship.

“She was excited about being a mum and we were going to go shopping for baby clothes together.

“I prayed she’d finally escape from him, but he took her life in the most horrendous way.

“Blakeley may be serving a life sentence, but I’m the one facing life without my daughter.

“I have a memory box with a pair of her shoes, a hair clip and lots of pictures and I keep her voicemail messages on my phone. But I just want her back with me.

“I’m setting up a charity Jayden’s Gift to help raise awareness about domestic violence amongst young people and where you can seek help.

“Jayden’s life has been tragically wasted, I hope her death can help save someone else.”

Britain’s Darkest Taboos: My Pregnant Daughter Was Strangled To Death By Her Boyfriend is on Sunday 3 April at 9pm, only on Crime + Investigation.