Mum's vow to keep schoolgirl's killer behind bars forever

05 August 2023 , 16:49

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Rebecca Aylward was killed at the age of 15

The grieving mum of a schoolgirl brutally bludgeoned to death by her ex-boyfriend is vowing to make sure he stays behind bars forever.

Sonia Oatley’s daughter Rebecca Aylward, 15, was battered with a rock by Joshua Davies as part of a sick bet with a pal to win a free breakfast. Callous Davies, now 29, has served almost 14 years for the vicious 2010 murder and is eligible for parole next year. But Sonia is determined to do all she can to block his release, claiming: “He will kill again.”

The heartbroken mum said: “Joshua’s sentence is shorter than Rebecca’s life – it’s an insult. That cowardly monster planned to kill my beautiful daughter in the most horrific way possible – he should never be released.” Davies, then 16, lured Rebecca to a forest near Aber­kenfig, Bridgend, Wales – not far from her home in Maesteg – in October 2010 before beating her with a rock the size of a rugby ball. He only confessed eight years into his sentence, initially blaming a friend.

Joshua Davies smashed his girlfriend's skull with a rock (PA)

Sonia Oatley said she will fight to keep Davies in prison (Huw Evans)

A trial in 2011 heard the schoolboy murderer had been abusive and controlling with Rebecca – known to pals as Becca – and sent texts to friends bragging he was going to kill her. One said they would buy Davies a cooked breakfast if he carried out his threat, and Davies later messaged boasting “You may just owe me”.

Describing the teen as “devious and calculating”, the judge Mr Justice Lloyd Jones jailed him for life with a minimum term of 14 years – which is almost up. But Sonia, 59, insists Davies is still a liar and a danger and should remain behind bars.

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She claimed: “He’s threatened my other daughter Jessica, and another of Becca’s friends – we cannot take that risk. He is dangerous and knows how to manipulate people and the authorities and he should stay locked up for the public’s safety.”

Sonia with her little girl Rebecca

Rebecca pictured as a little child

The mum of three issued a plea for murderers to face tougher sentences days after Justice Secretary Alex Chalk unveiled plans to introduce stricter jail terms for people who murder their ex-partners. Sonia said: “I am ashamed of our laws in the UK – they are archaic and I want to know why murderers are offered such different sentences. If you’ve taken a life you should serve a life – it’s as simple as that.”

Sonia described her girl as a ­beautiful soul who would do anything to help anyone and a model student who loved reading and drawing and dreamt of becoming a barrister. She added: “Rebecca could have achieved anything but one evil individual decided to rob her of that.

“I can’t celebrate special ­occasions without Rebecca and I have an empty chair at the dinner table because she should be here with us enjoying her life. A piece of my heart is missing.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told the Mirror: “This was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with Rebecca’s family. We are strengthening the law so domestic killers who murder their ex-partner at the end of a relationship spend longer behind bars – and our reforms to the parole system will introduce a tougher release test to ensure those who pose a risk remain in prison."

Saskia Rowlands