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| Mark Bridger approached April Jones's sister on Facebook, court hears | Mark Bridger approached April Jones's sister on Facebook, court hears |
| (7 days later) | |
| The man accused of abducting and murdering April Jones dated a 15-year-old girl when he was in his 30s, and approached one of April's half-sisters via a social networking site when she was around 14, a jury has heard. | The man accused of abducting and murdering April Jones dated a 15-year-old girl when he was in his 30s, and approached one of April's half-sisters via a social networking site when she was around 14, a jury has heard. |
| In a statement to police, April's father, Paul, said he remembered thinking the teenage girl Bridger was seeing was "a little young" for him, the court was told. April's mother, Coral, revealed in her police statement that she had advised her elder daughter not to engage with Bridger on Facebook. | In a statement to police, April's father, Paul, said he remembered thinking the teenage girl Bridger was seeing was "a little young" for him, the court was told. April's mother, Coral, revealed in her police statement that she had advised her elder daughter not to engage with Bridger on Facebook. |
| The statements, which were read out in court on Friday, also detailed April's last movements on the afternoon and evening she vanished from Machynlleth in mid-Wales. It emerged that the five-year-old had pestered her parents to be allowed out to play, and they had reluctantly agreed. | The statements, which were read out in court on Friday, also detailed April's last movements on the afternoon and evening she vanished from Machynlleth in mid-Wales. It emerged that the five-year-old had pestered her parents to be allowed out to play, and they had reluctantly agreed. |
| Mold crown court heard that after school that day, 1 October last year, April went for a swimming lesson and returned home for a tea of spaghetti on toast. Her mother said she watched her favourite Disney film, Tangled, and asked to go out to play on her bicycle. | Mold crown court heard that after school that day, 1 October last year, April went for a swimming lesson and returned home for a tea of spaghetti on toast. Her mother said she watched her favourite Disney film, Tangled, and asked to go out to play on her bicycle. |
| Ms Jones added: "Paul and I said no. She kept on and on and had a little tantrum and I eventually gave in. I told her I didn't want her out for long. I think it was about 7pm and that was the last time I saw her." | Ms Jones added: "Paul and I said no. She kept on and on and had a little tantrum and I eventually gave in. I told her I didn't want her out for long. I think it was about 7pm and that was the last time I saw her." |
| Twenty minutes later Ms Jones sent April's older brother out to collect his sister as "it was getting dark and a little colder". "Within a very short time he came running home and he was in a hysterical state," she said. "When I calmed him down he said that April's friend had seen her getting into a car with a man and that she had gone. I went over and asked April's friend what she had seen. I was told April had got into a car with a man and he had driven off." She said she dialled 999 and then went out looking for April. "I even looked in the bins. I was frantic." | Twenty minutes later Ms Jones sent April's older brother out to collect his sister as "it was getting dark and a little colder". "Within a very short time he came running home and he was in a hysterical state," she said. "When I calmed him down he said that April's friend had seen her getting into a car with a man and that she had gone. I went over and asked April's friend what she had seen. I was told April had got into a car with a man and he had driven off." She said she dialled 999 and then went out looking for April. "I even looked in the bins. I was frantic." |
| The prosecution alleges Bridger, a 47-year-old former slaughterman, abducted and murdered April in a sexually motivated attack before disposing of, concealing or destroying her body. The jury has been told that Bridger collected images of child abuse and pictures of girls killed in notorious murder cases. | The prosecution alleges Bridger, a 47-year-old former slaughterman, abducted and murdered April in a sexually motivated attack before disposing of, concealing or destroying her body. The jury has been told that Bridger collected images of child abuse and pictures of girls killed in notorious murder cases. |
| Bridger, who wiped tears from his eyes throughout the reading of the statements on Friday, claims he accidentally killed April when he ran her over and does not remember what he did with her body. He denies all charges. | Bridger, who wiped tears from his eyes throughout the reading of the statements on Friday, claims he accidentally killed April when he ran her over and does not remember what he did with her body. He denies all charges. |
| Ms Jones said in her statement that April was "aware of strangers" and knew not to go off with anybody she did not know. "I can't understand why she would go into someone's car that she doesn't know," she added. | Ms Jones said in her statement that April was "aware of strangers" and knew not to go off with anybody she did not know. "I can't understand why she would go into someone's car that she doesn't know," she added. |
| In his police statement, Mr Jones said April had had "a little paddy" when she wanted to play outside. "She is quite stubborn when she gets something in her mind." | In his police statement, Mr Jones said April had had "a little paddy" when she wanted to play outside. "She is quite stubborn when she gets something in her mind." |
| Mr Jones said he had known Bridger for around 20 years. He said he recalled that at one point Bridger was dating a much younger girl. He said Bridger was around 32 and the girl 15. "I remember thinking she was a little young for him – he was twice her age," he said. | Mr Jones said he had known Bridger for around 20 years. He said he recalled that at one point Bridger was dating a much younger girl. He said Bridger was around 32 and the girl 15. "I remember thinking she was a little young for him – he was twice her age," he said. |
| "I remember we used to go out in his rally car, an Astra GTi with bucket seats. He used to drive it like a maniac and was a risk-taker." | "I remember we used to go out in his rally car, an Astra GTi with bucket seats. He used to drive it like a maniac and was a risk-taker." |
| Mr Jones said he once loaned Bridger a book on SAS survival techniques. After his arrest, Bridger told police he had been in the SAS – though the prosecution says this is fantasy. | Mr Jones said he once loaned Bridger a book on SAS survival techniques. After his arrest, Bridger told police he had been in the SAS – though the prosecution says this is fantasy. |
| April's father added: "I can't think of any reason why Mark Bridger would take April; he is a father too. I don't understand why he would do this to her." | April's father added: "I can't think of any reason why Mark Bridger would take April; he is a father too. I don't understand why he would do this to her." |
| Ms Jones said in the statement that Bridger made contact with her elder daughter, then aged around 14, on Facebook about two years ago, telling the girl he knew her mother because they had both played darts in a pub. She told her daughter not to become a Facebook friend of his. | Ms Jones said in the statement that Bridger made contact with her elder daughter, then aged around 14, on Facebook about two years ago, telling the girl he knew her mother because they had both played darts in a pub. She told her daughter not to become a Facebook friend of his. |
| The court has heard that Bridger had images of local girls, including April's half-sisters, on his laptop. | The court has heard that Bridger had images of local girls, including April's half-sisters, on his laptop. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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