A TEENAGER accused of helping his brother bury the body of Jayden Parkinson wept in the dock as he was told to look at photos of the two graves.

Jake Blakeley took to the stand yesterday for the first time in his trial for preventing the lawful burial of 17-year-old Jayden.

His brother Ben is serving a life sentence for murdering the pregnant teenager on December 3 2013.

Jake, now 18, has admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, but denies preventing a lawful burial. He told the jury at Oxford Crown Court Ben – who he branded “an evil person” – had told him they were burying weapons and dead animals and did not know the holes were used to bury Jayden’s body.

Jake said he had first met Jayden when he was 13 through friends in Didcot, he knew her and her family well, but had not seen or spoken to her for eight months before she was killed.

He said he had not known she had been dating Ben for several months and he thought she “went somewhere to live with her father”.

He cried when prosecutor Matthew Walsh told him to look at photographs of the two holes where Ben buried Jayden.

Jake, of Venners Water, Didcot, said: “Do I have to? I don’t want to look at them.”

When Mr Walsh asked if he was refusing to look at the pictures he said: “I’m not refusing to.

“I’m asking politely if I need to do so. I’d rather not.”

Before Mr Walsh could reply, Jake, who was wearing a black jumper, black trousers and a white shirt, burst into tears.

Jayden’s mother Samantha Shrewsbury, sat behind the witness box, was also reduced to sobs.

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Earlier in the day he had described how, at his brother’s request, he helped to dig a hole in a field in the countryside south of Didcot.

The jury heard how on December 4, 2013, Ben had led Jake to a remote field.

Jake said: “He says ‘We’re going to dig’ and I asked why and he told me it was weapons.”

Martin Steen, defending, asked if Jake knew Ben owned weapons.

Jake said: “He had lots of weapons. Knives, screwdrivers, hammers, samurai [swords], all sorts.

“I thought it was very likely he wanted to bury them.”

Mr Steen asked: “Did you think you were digging a grave?”

Jake said: “No.”

On December 18 the pair then dug up the grave of their uncle Alan Kennedy in the graveyard at All Saints’ Church, Didcot.

Jake said: “Ben told me we were going to tidy the grave up for my mum and my nan, who always visited it on Christmas Day.

“He said we were going to put stones down and get a new headstone. I thought it was a nice gesture.”

The jury heard how Ben disappeared for two hours and returned carrying a heavy suitcase.

Jake said: “He told me there was a dead cat and a dead dog that he killed.

“He said that they belonged to his ex-girlfriend Sarah [Rees].”

Mr Walsh said: “Did you not think it was odd that Ben wanted to bury them in your uncle Alan’s grave?”

Jake replied: “Everything he did is odd [sic]. Everything has to be done his way. I didn’t question him.

“You don’t understand what kind of person he was.

“He is an evil person. Everything he does is horrible.

“If you had a brother like him who acted the way he did when you didn’t do something the way he wanted you’d understand.”

Mr Walsh said: “You didn’t need to ask questions because he’d told you everything about killing Jayden.

“You knew all about it, you are lying.”

Jake became emotional again, raising his voice as he said: “I’m not lying, I have admitted everything I’ve done.

“If I did it I would have the courage to stand up and say I did.

“I’m not like Ben, I’m me.

“I cared about Jayden. She was a lovely, gentle, sweet person. Neither her or her family deserve this, they are nice people.

“I’ve lost everything because of him. I would not stand here and lie.

“Don’t you think if I was making something up that I wouldn’t do something better than a dead dog and a cat, why would I make that up?

“I’m not willing to plead guilty to something I didn’t do.”

The trial continues.

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