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Sarah Payne's father jailed for glassing brother | Sarah Payne's father jailed for glassing brother |
(40 minutes later) | |
The father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has been jailed for 16 months after admitting attacking his brother. | |
Michael Payne, 43, struck his brother Stephen with a glass after they had both drunk a large amount of alcohol. | |
Payne developed a drink problem after the murder of his eight-year-old daughter by Roy Whiting 11 years ago, Maidstone Crown Court heard. | |
The attack happened after the brothers consumed about three litres of cider and a bottle of vodka each. | The attack happened after the brothers consumed about three litres of cider and a bottle of vodka each. |
The court heard the attack happened at Payne's brother's home on 24 August. | |
Judge Jeremy Carey said he had the "deepest sympathy" for the loss of his daughter but the offence warranted a jail sentence. | |
Payne, of Brishing Lane, Maidstone, who has previous convictions for common assault and criminal damage, will serve eight months behind bars and the remainder on licence. | |
Defence counsel Oliver Saxby urged the judge not to follow a "formulaic exercise" when deciding sentencing because of Payne's "exceptional" background. | |
Bereavement counselling | |
"The assorted aftermath had a life-changing effect on him and his then wife and his family," he said. | |
"It's desperately sad. He never sought nor was offered assistance with bereavement counselling." | |
He added that Payne split from his wife Sara in 2003 and began drinking but was aiming to make a recovery from his addiction. | |
Stephen Payne suffered injuries to his the back of his head, arm and hand but they were not life-threatening. | |
He fled from his home to a nearby property where an ambulance was called. | |
Mr Saxby said Stephen Payne had offered a retraction statement, which the judge described as a "merciful" act. | |
Sarah was murdered by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting in West Sussex in 2000. The family was living in Surrey at the time. |
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