Crime :Schoolgirl Kayleigh Haywood texted pal 'help' just hours before she was raped and murdered

A 15-year-old girl who was groomed online by an older man texted "help" to her friend just hours before she was raped and murdered, a court heard.

Luke Harlow, 27, is accused of keeping tragic Kayleigh Haywood a prisoner in his home before she was beaten to death by his friend Stephen Beadman, 29.

A court heard Kayleigh texted the word "help" to her friend hours before she was killed.

Landscape gardener Beadman has previously pleaded guilty to raping and murdering Kayleigh on farmland near Harlow's home on November 15 last year.

Harlow has already admitted two sexual offences against Kayleigh.

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Stephen Beadman (left) with Luke Harlow (right) appearing at a previous court hearing

But the pair, who lived at neighbouring properties in Ibstock, Leics., both deny falsely imprisoning her at Harlow's home.

In a witness statement read out to Nottingham Crown Court, Kayleigh's friend Katie Simpson said: "At about 3.15pm on November 13 Kayleigh messaged me and said she couldn't come over because she was staying with her auntie that weekend.

"I woke up at about 6am or 7am the next day and I had a message from Kayleigh sent at 9.30pm the night before which said 'Help'.

"I asked her straight away what do you mean. She text back straight away, 'I meant hello.'

"Her messages were unusual that weekend, and didn't sound like her."

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Police near farmland where Kayleigh's body was foundMiranda Moore QC told the court Harlow had contacted a string of underage girls - the youngest being 13 - in the months before Kayleigh's murder.

She told the jury: "We are going to look at Harlow's messages to some other young girls so you can see his train of thought for getting girls to his flat.

"He was messaging one girl 16 years younger than him from March 2015 until October 15.

"In May he said: 'Would you come and stay for the weekend or something. I would come and meet you somewhere, and that means I'm going to keep you forever.'

"He said to her: 'I'm crying and I miss you. I need them kisses off you to cheer me up. Kisses, and maybe more.'

"Later on he said: 'Just say you are staying with your mates,' which is exactly what he said to Kayleigh, and is exactly what she did.

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Luke Harlow has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual grooming and two counts of sexual activity with Kayleigh Haywood

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Stephen Beadman, 29, admitted murdering and raping 15-year-old Kayleigh Haywood

"He said to another girl, who was 16, but was 15 when he started talking to her, 'I want to take advantage of you, get you drunk.'

"At Christmas 2014 he said to her: 'Can I kidnap you for Christmas.'

"'I mean it, I would keep you here all Christmas. I wish I could kidnap you for Christmas, but I would probably be arrested and sent to prison.

"'If I kidnap you, I'm keeping you.'

"In August in 2015 he said to her: 'Might kidnap you though, no promises.'

"On September 15 he said: 'I will look after you, I might try to kidnap you though.

"'Come over for back rub and Maccies. Still might kidnap you though.

"Run away and come and live with me. We will party all the time.'

"She told him she was a lightweight, and he said: 'At least you are cheap, easy to get drunk and take advantage of you.

"Having sex with drunk, unconscious girls is my favourite.

"'I will pay for you to get here, but then you will have to stay here forever as my slave. A naked slave.'

"He messaged another older girl saying: 'No false promises, you are being kidnapped and that's that.'

"The youngest girl he messaged was just 13. She thought his behavior was controlling, but there were no kidnap messages.

A witness saw Kayleigh fleeing from the house half-naked in the early hours

"Kayleigh was the last in a line of young ladies that he was trying to get to come to his home for a weekend of sex, fuelled by alcohol and a weekend where he was saying he wanted to kidnap and keep them.

"We say it will help you to understand what was in his mind. At some point Kayleigh clearly wanted to leave that flat.

"You don't run out into the night dressed like she was unless you want to get out of there fast.

"Was it that Kayleigh was at all times in that flat willing to be there, or did something happen?

"Did she punch Luke Harlow in the face sufficient to break his glasses? Was there some fight or struggle that she wanted to escape?

"Does Mr Beadman really not remember being in the flat and being on the tarmac outside? If they lied about it, why?"

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Luke Harlow had contacted a string of underage girls in the lead up to Kayleigh's death, the court heard

The jury was told neighbours heard "loud bangs" and "screams" from the property at 10.30pm and at 3.30am a witness saw Kayleigh trying to flee the property half-naked.

Project Manager Simon Baker's house overlooks the pathway from Harlow's home to Sense Valley Forest Park.

In a witness statement read out by prosecutor Teresa Hay, he said: "At around 3.30am I was in my bedroom when I heard a loud scream that sounded like a female in distress.

"My partner said 'Did you hear that?'

"I went to the window and I saw what I thought was a policeman pinning a girl down on the ground.

"I couldn't see clearly who it was, but he was wearing a dark jacket with white stripes so I thought it was a policeman.

"I looked back a few moments later and she was on her back lying down and he was pinning her down with his knees on her elbows.

"Her arms were up with her hands either side of her head. He was sat astride her, near her neck.

"He looked up for about 20 or 30 seconds. The male and female then got up and made their way back towards the Croft Estate.

"They appeared perfectly normal and there were no altercations or fighting or shouting.

"About ten or 15 minutes later I heard another scream. I could see them walking back along the path towards me.

"They appeared calm. I heard the girl calmly say 'Hold my hand,' and they walked along the path that leads into Science Park. I did not see or hear them again."

In her witness statement read out by Miss Hay, witness Angela Bailiff said: "I was awoken to the sound of banging and screaming in the early hours of November 15.

"At about 3.15am I woke up with a start and I could hear a girl screaming and men's voices.

"It was not just a normal scream, this was quite intense. I just lay there, rigid. I was petrified, it sounded really serious.

"The screaming and shouting lasted for about three or four minutes and then it went silent."

Sophie Hunt said in a witness statement read out by Miss Hay: "Throughout that evening I remember hearing banging and crashing from number seven.

"It was constant throughout the evening.

"Later on, at around 10.30pm I suddenly heard a scream. It was a girl's scream. It lasted for around two to three seconds."

The case was adjourned after Stephen Beadman declined to return to the dock after the lunchtime break.

Mrs Justice Cox told the jury: "You will notice Mr Beadman is not in the dock.

"At his own request he has asked that he not be present for the remainder of the case.

"That has no bearing on your role."

The trial will resume on Monday.