A tragic film which details the final weeks of the life of a Measham teenager before she was murdered has won four national awards for its outstanding work highlighting the dangers of online grooming.
Kayleigh's Love Story, which was created by Leicestershire Police, beat 57 other films shortlisted for the prestigious EVCOM Platinum Award for the Best Film in all categories, announced at BAFTA's headquarters in Piccadilly, London, last week.
The film also won gold in the social media category, silver in the Laurus Award category and bronze in the charity and not for profit category.
Made by the force's communications and engagement directorate in association with Affixxius Films of Loughborough, Kayleigh's Love Story tells the story of the last two weeks in the life of schoolgirl Kayleigh Haywood.
Kayleigh Haywood was groomed online by Luke Harlow, a 27-year-old man she had never previously met, over a period of 13 days in November 2015 before she finally agreed to meet him at his Ibstock home. Two days later, she was raped and murdered by Harlow's next-door neighbour, 28-year-old Stephen Beadman, and her body dumped in a nearby field.
Beadman was jailed for 35 years for murder, rape and false imprisonment, and his neighbour Luke Harlow received a 12-year sentence for meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child and false imprisonment.
The short film, which was made last year, was initially screened to 55,000 schoolchildren from the age of 11 and is schools throughout Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
On January 3 this year it was launched online, and to date has been viewed by an estimated 35 million people worldwide.
The film, which is available in numerous languages has already won three other awards including Gold awards from The Royal Television Society and from DRUM, and has most recently been praised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in a recent report of Child Protection.
Deputy Chief Constable Roger Bannister said: "The reaction to the film has been truly astonishing, and to have won this latest, and hugely coveted, national award is a remarkable achievement for a police force and all those who were involved in its production and distribution.
"The whole point of making this film was to warn children and adults alike about the dangers of online activity, and without doubt this film has already saved lives."
This is what happened:
Kayleigh Haywood
Friday, November 13, 2015
Kayleigh is last seen by her parents after they drop her off outside Ibstock Community College in Central Avenue, Ibstock, at around 6pm. The teenager had arranged not to return home that night.
Saturday, November 14
Kayleigh is reported missing. Police believe she may have been sighted in the Sence Valley Forest Park area at some point on Saturday afternoon. Later that day, Kayleigh's mobile phone is handed in to police by a member of the public.
Sunday, November 15
As the search intensifies for Kayleigh, police make a move on two suspects. A 27-year-old and 28-year-old from Ibstock are arrested. They turn out to be Stephen Beadman and Luke Harlow.
Monday, November 16
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Police launch a video appeal in which Chief Superintendent David Sandall addresses Kayleigh directly saying: "we just want to ensure you're safe and well."
Tuesday, November 17
Activity by police sees a house in the Baker's Croft estate in Ibstock and the entrance to Sence Valley Forest Park cordoned off by police and the search for Kayleigh enters its fifth day. Kayleigh's parents make an emotional appeal.
Stephanie Haywood and Martin Whitby begged their daughter to come home saying they just wanted her back safe and sound.
Detectives were also granted a further 36 hours to hold and question the two men initially arrested in connection with Kayleigh's disappearance.
Wednesday, November 18
Belton, a village eight miles from Ibstock, is subject to a police search early in the day.
Late on Wednesday evening police discover a body in a field near to the lake in Ibstock, and announce that they believe it to be Kayleigh's.
Officers later identify the body as Kayleigh's – they identify her with the help of dental records.
Thursday, November 19
Two men are charged for their part in Kayleigh's death.
Stephen Beadman, 28, from George Avenue, Ibstock, is charged with the 15-year-old's murder, plus a rape charge.
Luke Harlow, 27, also of George Avenue, is charged with grooming and two counts of sexual activity with a child.
Hundreds of people attend a candlelit vigil to remember Kayleigh at St Laurence Church in Measham.
Friday, November 20
Beadman and Harlow appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court. They don't enter pleas to the charges at this stage and both men are remanded in custody to appear at Leicester Crown Court on December 18.
Tuesday, November 24
The inquest into Kayleigh's death opens in Loughborough. A preliminary post-mortem examination reveals that the teenager died from head and facial injuries. The inquest is adjourned until February.
Both men appear at Leicester Crown Court, Beadman via video link and Harlow in person. No pleas are entered and a trial date is set for June 7.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Kayleigh's funeral takes place in her hometown of Measham. The service is held at St Laurence Church with hundreds of people paying their respects.
Tuesday, April 5
Stephen Beadman pleads guilty to raping and murdering Kayleigh.
Beadman, and Harlow, plead not guilty to falsely imprisoning Kayleigh on November 13, the day she died.
Tuesday, June 8
Over the course of a two-week trial the court hears how Harlow wanted "a weekend of sex-fuelled by alcohol".
It also hears how Kayleigh was seen running into the street half naked before being tackled by Beadman and forced to walk a mile to the site where she was eventually murdered.
Both men were found guilty of false imprisonment.
