A TEENAGER who murdered his 10-year-old neighbour has been jailed for life.

Kieron Smith, aged 18, of Pilling Street, Leigh, will serve a minimum of 15 years before he is eligible for parole.

Passing sentence on Smith - who was found guilty of murdering Lauren Pilkington-Smith after a trial last month - judge Mr Justice Mackay, sitting at Liverpool Crown Court, said: "What you did that day was wicked beyond belief."

Smith, dressed in blue jeans and an olive-coloured jumper, showed no emotion as sentence was passed or as he was led from the dock.

Mr Justice Mackay told Smith he had taken away "a gem of a girl".

He added: "You led an empty and aimless life and did nothing to fill your days.

"Therefore in social and developmental terms you were an immature young man, but you knew full well how to behave, how to behave with younger children and you knew what you did that day was wicked beyond belief.

"She viewed you as her friend and playmate and you abused that trust and confidence she placed in you."

During his trial last month, Smith admitted playing cricket with Lauren and another boy but insisted he had left at around 6.30pm to go home.

He said he had spent the evening playing computer games and watching television.

In fact, the introverted loner, who left school at 12 and had no friends his own age, had taken the girl to woods near their homes and attacked her in a fit of rage that he has never explained.

He struck Lauren at least 10 blows to the side of her head, possibly with a cricket bat or similar weapon.

The teenager partially undressed her, although there was no evidence of a sexual attack, and placed a twig in each nostril and a sock in her mouth. He then covered the body with leaves and undergrowth.

Mr Justice Mackay warned him that if he continues to deny the killing, he will remain in prison for much longer than his 15-year minimum sentence.

Lauren's family welcomed the sentence.

Grandmother Pam Smith, mother of Lauren's father Glenn, said: "As long as he never admits what he did then he will probably be in prison for ever.

"That's long enough for us because we've got to live with our sorrow for ever."

Grandfather Ken Pilkington, father of Lauren's mother Alison Pilkington-Smith, said: "I don't think he will be out again, but it is up to the parole board to make sure he never puts another family through what we have been through.

"She just came home from school and went out to play with her friends.

"He killed her, and he knows he killed her, he tried to conceal her body, and the macabre things he did to her was just horrific."