Charlene Downes, 14, kissed and waved goodbye to her mother in Blackpool town centre in November, 2003 and has never been seen since.

Charlene was known to have been among a number of young white girls who congregated around a district of Asian fast-food shops in the Lancashire seaside town.

Yesterday, her mother wept as a kebab shop owner was heard on tape allegedly telling how he had chopped up her daughter and placed her body, “bones and all”, in a mincing machine.

The prosecution claims that Charlene was killed by Iyad Albattikhi, 29, the owner of the Funny Boyz kebab shop, and that he had boasted of having sex with the teenager. He denies the murder charge.  His business partner and co-defendant Mohammed Reveshi, 50, denies disposing of Charlene’s body.

Despite an extensive nationwide appeal, there has been no trace of Charlene, her body has never been found.

The trial continues.

In memory of those who are still missing.