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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Sarah Payne's father Michael found dead at Kent home | Sarah Payne's father Michael found dead at Kent home |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has been found dead at his home in Kent. | The father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has been found dead at his home in Kent. |
| Michael Payne, 45, was discovered at his home in Brishing Lane, Maidstone, on Monday night. | Michael Payne, 45, was discovered at his home in Brishing Lane, Maidstone, on Monday night. |
| Kent Police has not officially named the occupant of the property but said the death was not being treated as suspicious. | Kent Police has not officially named the occupant of the property but said the death was not being treated as suspicious. |
| Mr Payne's eight-year-old daughter was abducted and killed by a convicted paedophile in West Sussex in 2000. | Mr Payne's eight-year-old daughter was abducted and killed by a convicted paedophile in West Sussex in 2000. |
| 'Decent man' | 'Decent man' |
| His daughter Charlotte posted a picture of her father on Facebook alongside a message saying she was "heartbroken". | 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. | "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." | She later added: "I'm sorry I couldn't save you dad. I hope you have finally found your peace and happiness." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Duncan Kennedy, news correspondent | Duncan Kennedy, news correspondent |
| Michael Payne was a father crushed by agony. A parent consumed by grief. | Michael Payne was a father crushed by agony. A parent consumed by grief. |
| When his eight-year-old daughter Sarah was abducted in July 2000 his world collapsed. | When his eight-year-old daughter Sarah was abducted in July 2000 his world collapsed. |
| She was found dead in West Sussex 17 days later, murdered by Roy Whiting - a paedophile now serving life in jail - but it was a term that gave Michael only temporary escape from his demons. | She was found dead in West Sussex 17 days later, murdered by Roy Whiting - a paedophile now serving life in jail - but it was a term that gave Michael only temporary escape from his demons. |
| With his wife Sara, Michael found brief solace and purpose in campaigning for Sarah's Law, giving people greater information about sex offenders, but he began drinking heavily and the marriage collapsed. | With his wife Sara, Michael found brief solace and purpose in campaigning for Sarah's Law, giving people greater information about sex offenders, but he began drinking heavily and the marriage collapsed. |
| He later said he had failed to protect his own daughter. | He later said he had failed to protect his own daughter. |
| He had tried to come to terms with his suffocating loss, but in the end he was consumed. | He had tried to come to terms with his suffocating loss, but in the end he was consumed. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Mr Payne split from his wife Sara in 2003 after 18 years together, blaming the difficulties of coping with the loss of their daughter. | Mr Payne split from his wife Sara in 2003 after 18 years together, blaming the difficulties of coping with the loss of their daughter. |
| In December 2011, he was jailed for 16 months after admitting attacking his brother with a glass after they had both drunk a large amount of alcohol. | In December 2011, he was jailed for 16 months after admitting attacking his brother with a glass after they had both drunk a large amount of alcohol. |
| The court heard how he had developed a drink problem after the murder of his daughter by Roy Whiting. | The court heard how he had developed a drink problem after the murder of his daughter by Roy Whiting. |