Father of murdered schoolgirl sentenced for assault on wife

THE father of murdered British schoolgirl Sarah Payne was given a community order of 24 months and ordered to pay £400 (€585) compensation yesterday after he admitted assaulting the girl’s mother.

Michael Payne was charged after the attack on Sara, from whom he separated 18 months ago, at her home last month, and was convicted days later.

Payne, aged 36, of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, also admitted criminal damage to a moped on the same occasion.

He sat in the dock at Staines Magistrates’ Court with his head down after arriving with two friends.

Eight-year-old Sarah went missing in July 2000.

Her body was found later that month and paedophile Roy Whiting was found guilty in December 2001 of killing her.

Payne left court without commenting.

Prosecutor Doug Lewis said he had kicked and punched Mrs Payne, although he denies kicking her.

Mr Lewis told the court that Payne, who had been drinking, went to the house at 4.30pm on April 9 to demand the return of a DVD from Mrs Payne.

He returned at 8.30pm, still showing the effects of alcohol, before leaving soon afterwards.

An “angry” Payne came back a third time at 11.15pm and attacked his estranged wife, the court heard.

After the fracas was broken up, Payne said “I’ve done it now” and left, Mr Lewis added.

Mrs Payne later heard a “cracking” from the garden, where Payne was seen hitting a moped with a metal bar. When she asked why he had done it, he replied “Payback”, the court heard.

Payne was arrested at the scene and, when interviewed, admitted that his memory of the events was “hazy”. He claimed that Mrs Payne had slapped him first, although not hard.

The court also heard that Payne, who is unemployed, had one previous caution relating to Mrs Payne.

Jocelynne Freeman, defending, told magistrates that Payne had pleaded guilty at the first possible opportunity and added: “He accepts that he assaulted his wife and clearly he shouldn’t have done that.”

She added that issues such as bereavement counselling relating to the death of Sarah had still “not been dealt with in a way which allows the defendant to come to terms with the situation”.

Payne was also ordered to complete a domestic abuse programme and pay £55 (€80) costs on top of compensation to Mrs Payne of £400 (€585), which he will pay at a rate of £10 (€14.60) a fortnight.

He pleaded guilty to the offences on April 14.