A teenager was found with serious knife injuries close to a bowls club, according to evidence presented at an inquest.

Lilly Jones, from Blaina, was reported as missing on the evening of Saturday June 20.

Gwent Police confirmed her remains were located in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina, close to the Blaina bowls club, at slightly after 10am on Monday June 22.

She was discovered with wounds to her chest and neck.

Emergency services responded, but she was declared deceased at the location at 10.45pm.

DNA testing was used to formally identify Lilly.

During an inquest hearing in Newport, Gwent senior coroner Caroline Saunders stated the preliminary cause of death was listed as multiple stab wounds affecting the neck and trunk.

A 14-year-old male – who cannot be named due to his age – was taken into custody and charged with Lilly’s murder.

He attended Cardiff Crown Court the previous week. The youth did not submit a plea during the brief procedure and will have the chance to do so next month on July 24.

The defendant, who comes from the Blaenau Gwent region and has been described by officers as white British, was placed in secure youth accommodation, with a provisional trial date of November 23 set and an estimated duration of four weeks.

Ms Saunders indicated the matter would be postponed until the criminal case concludes.

A provisional date of April 6, 2027 was set for the inquest.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas of Gwent Police stated that their sympathies extend to Lilly’s family and loved ones during this challenging period. He acknowledged significant public attention surrounding the ongoing investigation and stressed the importance of individuals considering how their choice of words, particularly online remarks, might impact the ability to bring anyone convicted of a criminal offence before the courts.