THE TEENAGER convicted of the murder of Ammanford hairdresser Kelly Hyde should stay behind bars for at least 12 years, the trial judge has ruled.

Adrian Vivian Jones, 17, showed no sign of emotion as the judge sentenced him to "detention at Her Majesty's pleasure" with a minimum 12-year recommendation.

Jones, of Mill Terrace, Pantyfynnon, Ammanford, was found guilty of murder by a jury at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday.

Kelly, 24, was smashed to the ground and beaten over the head with a heavy duty barbell in the motiveless attack by Jones at a bridle path close to Mill Terrace last September.

She had been walking her pet whippet Scrappy along the path after dropping off her car at a local garage for an MOT earlier that morning.

Jones dragged her body down an embankment after the attack in an effort to hide what he had done, leaving her face down in a river.

The disappearance of Kelly sparked a missing persons hunt until her body was discovered three days later.

Jones was arrested within days of her discovery and evidence linking him to the killing, such as blood on his training shoes and her dog's lead hidden in his attic, were instrumental in the case going to trial.

Justice Davis, passing sentence at Court, told Jones: "Quite why you killed Kelly Hyde is known only to you.

"What one can say is that the person who killed an attractive young woman, innocently walking her dog along a river, for no reason at all, there is no motive either of sex or robbery, must be considered a dangerous person.

"This was a savage case of beating a woman to death. It was a very sustained attack on a defenceless young woman.

"There were numerous blows to Kelly. Mercifully, there is reason to think that the first blow would have rendered her unconscious."

The judge told Jones that he would be sentencing him with a minimum 12 year recommendation minus 286 days already spent in custody.

He explained: "I am required by parliament to take a starting point of 12 years before you are considered for release.

"That is the minimum term that I am going to recommend. It means you will serve 11 years and 79 days before you are considered for release by the authorities.

Andy and Barbara Hyde, the victim's parents, spoke of the ordeal they continue to live since the murder of their daughter.

Mrs Hyde spoke of her "despair" at her loss and the comfort she got from small links to her daughter.

"I have the towel Kelly used folded and under my pillow," she said in an impact statement.

"I feel there is DNA of Kelly's on it and it is comforting to touch under my pillow."

Mr Hyde said: "The full effects of this tragedy spreads beyond our immediate family, and it must not be overlooked or underestimated just how much relatives, friends, work colleagues and the local community as a whole have been affected."

Neither parent wished to comment at the end of the sentencing hearing today.

Detective Superintendent Simon Powell, of Dyfed Powys Police, did speak briefly after the hearing, and said: "I fully accept the sentence handed down by the judge today.

He described Jones as a "violent and dangerous person who had been removed now from the community.

"Whilst the sentence will bring little comfort to Kelly's family and friends, it will hopefully bring some closure to this sad episode in their lives," he said in conclusion.