Ep 7. My Pregnant Daughter Was Strangled To Death By Her Boyfriend - Jayden Parkinson

In Britain's Darkest Taboos season 5 episode 7, viewers are introduced to the tragic case of Jayden Parkinson, a 17-year-old girl who was strangled to death by her boyfriend while pregnant with his child. The episode explores the events leading up to the murder and the aftermath for Jayden's family.

The episode begins by introducing Jayden as a happy-go-lucky teenager who loved to perform in school plays and had dreams of becoming a hairdresser. She was in a relationship with Ben Blakeley, a troubled young man with a criminal past who had recently been released from prison. Despite warnings from her family and friends about Ben's history of violent behavior, Jayden remained committed to him and even became pregnant with his child.

As the episode unfolds, viewers see how their relationship quickly became abusive. Jayden was physically assaulted by Ben on numerous occasions and even tried to leave him several times, but he always managed to manipulate her into coming back to him. Their relationship came to a tragic end in December 2013 when Ben strangled Jayden to death in a wooded area near his grandparents' house.

The episode features interviews with Jayden's family members, including her mother Samantha Shrewsbury and her younger sister Shania, who share their memories of Jayden and describe the devastating impact her death had on their lives. They also speak about the difficulties they faced in trying to get justice for Jayden, as Ben initially denied killing her and went on the run for several days before eventually being apprehended by police.

Throughout the episode, viewers are shown footage from Ben's trial and hear testimony from witnesses who saw him in the days leading up to Jayden's murder. They also hear about the significant media attention the case received and the impact it had on the local community.

As the episode comes to an end, viewers see how Jayden's family have been working to raise awareness about domestic violence and to ensure that her memory is not forgotten. They have set up a charity in her name called Jayden's Gift, which aims to support young people affected by domestic abuse and to help them break the cycle of violence.

Overall, Britain's Darkest Taboos season 5 episode 7 is a harrowing but powerful reminder of the devastating impact domestic violence can have on individuals and families. It highlights the importance of speaking out about abuse and the need for society to do more to support those affected by it.