Award for film warning about the dangers of online grooming

A film warning of the dangers of online grooming has won an award from The Royal Television Society (RTS).

Kayleigh’s Love Story, produced by Leicestershire Police following the rape and murder of 15-year-old Measham teenager Kayleigh Haywood, won the Gold award in the Best Promotional category from the RTS at a ceremony last night (Thursday 3 November).

It is the second award won by the five-minute film in the last few weeks.

Kayleigh’s Love Story tells how the schoolgirl was groomed online by Luke Harlow, a man she had never met.

During the course of 13 days, Harlow exchanged more than 2,600 text messages with Kayleigh.

Two days later, having been held against her will by Harlow and his next door neighbour Stephen Beadman, Kayleigh was raped and murdered by Beadman and her body left in a wood.

The film, made on behalf of the Force by Affixxius Films of Loughborough, was shot on location over five days in February this year with a professional cast.

It is currently being shown to every child aged 11 and above in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in controlled screenings by specially-training Police Community Support Officers.

Deputy Chief Constable Roger Bannister said: