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April Jones trial: Mark Bridger 'stopped other girls' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The man accused of murdering missing April Jones in a sexually motivated attack invited another girl for a sleepover at his house on the day she disappeared, a court has heard. | |
Mark Bridger, 47, from Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who disappeared near her home in Machynlleth on 1 October 2012. | Mark Bridger, 47, from Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who disappeared near her home in Machynlleth on 1 October 2012. |
He approached two girls aged eight and 10 that day, Mold Crown Court heard. | |
One was friendly with his daughter and he invited her for a sleepover. | |
The approach was made shortly after he had attended a parents' evening at the same school where April was a pupil. | |
Earlier that day, the court heard how Mr Bridger had propositioned three women via Facebook. | |
He sent the messages after breaking up with a girlfriend with whom he exchanged text messages. | |
The court was told Mr Bridger texted his employer on 1 October to say he was not going to be in. | |
He said he wanted to "get my head round things". | He said he wanted to "get my head round things". |
Just before midday, he was on Facebook and sent a message to a female asking if she fancied meeting up, "no strings attached". | Just before midday, he was on Facebook and sent a message to a female asking if she fancied meeting up, "no strings attached". |
More than two hours later, he contacted another woman on Facebook saying: "Hadn't realised you were single as I am. | |
"Do you fancy a drink... see how you feel and let me know." | |
Shortly afterwards, he sent a Facebook message to another woman: "Do you fancy a drink and a chat some time, no strings okay." | |
He had earlier exchanged texts with ex-girlfriend Vicky Fenner. | |
At 07:38 BST, Ms Fenner texted him: "Couldn't leave it without saying goodbye... maybe see you around okay." | At 07:38 BST, Ms Fenner texted him: "Couldn't leave it without saying goodbye... maybe see you around okay." |
Mr Bridger replied: "You were my life babe, my everything... for what it's worth I'm still in love with you." | Mr Bridger replied: "You were my life babe, my everything... for what it's worth I'm still in love with you." |
Then at 07:52 BST, Ms Fenner texted: "I do love you, just can't do it sorry. I don't want anything from the house okay." | Then at 07:52 BST, Ms Fenner texted: "I do love you, just can't do it sorry. I don't want anything from the house okay." |
Mr Bridger replied: "You don't have to change your number. I won't be hassling you." | Mr Bridger replied: "You don't have to change your number. I won't be hassling you." |
Later that day he sent a text: "Well didn't take you long to tell everyone and move on." | Later that day he sent a text: "Well didn't take you long to tell everyone and move on." |
The jury has also been shown CCTV images of April's movements in the hours before she disappeared - the last known pictures of her. | |
Viewing images | |
She had been to school, went home and eaten. | |
April then went for a swimming lesson at the local leisure centre with a friend, shortly after 16:30 BST. | |
While April went swimming her parents, Coral and Paul, went to a parents' evening at the school "where the defendant was later to go". | |
The public gallery at the court was earlier cleared to allow the jury to continue viewing images from Mr Bridger's computer. | The public gallery at the court was earlier cleared to allow the jury to continue viewing images from Mr Bridger's computer. |
They are being shown images viewed by him on 30 September. | They are being shown images viewed by him on 30 September. |
Mr Bridger, wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt, tie and grey trousers, wore headphones to hear everything said in court. | Mr Bridger, wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt, tie and grey trousers, wore headphones to hear everything said in court. |
April's parents were again in court. | |
April, who had mild cerebral palsy, disappeared while playing near her home in Machynlleth and has never been found. | |
Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice. | |