Sarah Payne’s father loses battle with alcohol

The children of Michael Payne, father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah, have paid tribute to him following his death after a long battle fighting drink problems.

Mr Payne was found dead at his home in Kent on Monday.

Police said they discovered the body of the 45-year-old at a property in Brishing Lane, Maidstone.

Mr Payne had developed a drink problem after his eight-year-old daughter was abducted and killed in 2000.

His daughter Charlotte posted a picture of her father on Facebook alongside a message saying she was “heartbroken”.

“No matter what happened and how many mistakes we all made. You will always be my daddy,” she wrote.

She later added: “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you dad. I hope you have finally found your peace and happiness.”

Her brother Lee wrote: “Dad, you had your demons and troubles but you had a good heart and was a decent man! I hope now you have found peace at last! RIP, you will be missed. We are all heartbroken.”

Michael Payne split from his wife Sara in 2003 after 18 years together, with both of them blaming the difficulties of coping with the tragic loss of their daughter.

Speaking at the time Sara Payne, who became a child protection campaigner after her daughter’s death, told the News of the World: “We know we’re not the same people we once were — and everyone knows the awful reason why.”

Mr Payne told the newspaper he felt guilty for being unable to protect his daughter and said this had put strain on his marriage.

Three years ago Mr Payne was jailed after pleading guilty to glassing his brother Stephen following a heavy drinking session during which both men consumed around three litres of cider each and a bottle of vodka.

Sentencing him, Judge Jeremy Carey said he had the “deepest sympathy” for the loss of his daughter but the offence warranted a jail sentence.

Speaking after the jail term for his daughter’s killer, convicted paedophile Roy Whiting, was reduced in 2010, Mr Payne said the decision to cut the sentence from 50 years to 40 before becoming eligible for parole was “outrageous”.

“He didn’t deserve a reduction but he won’t be coming out,” he said.

Sarah Payne was just eight-years-old when she went missing while playing in a field on a summer’s day 14 years ago.

Her disappearance and the subsequent jailing of a convicted paedophile for her murder sparked a campaign led by her mother that would eventually lead to a change in the law.

The little girl had been nearby her grandparents’ home in Kingston Gorse, West Sussex when she was snatched.

A huge search operation was launched as public appeals were made to find Sarah, the daughter of Michael and Sara and sister to Lee, Luke and Charlotte.

Sixteen days later, on July 17, 2000, the child’s body was found in a shallow grave 19km away, only yards from the A29 between Pulborough and Billingshurst.

The day after Sarah went missing Roy Whiting had been arrested but later released. He was questioned again a few weeks later, and finally charged with her murder in February the following year.

It was after his conviction in December 2001 that details of his history as a paedophile emerged.

The revelation prompted Mrs Payne to launch a campaign, supported by the News of the World newspaper, calling for parents with young children to be told if a sex offender is living near them.

Following years of pressure on the government, Sarah’s Law came into effect in 2011, allowing parents to ask police if anyone with access to their child is a convicted paedophile.

Mrs Payne was awarded an MBE in 2008 for her tireless campaigning on the issue.