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April Jones trial: Mark Bridger denies child sex interest April Jones trial: Mark Bridger denies child sex interest
(about 1 hour later)
A man accused of murdering five-year-old April Jones told a court he had never had any sexual interest in young children.A man accused of murdering five-year-old April Jones told a court he had never had any sexual interest in young children.
Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who went missing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012.Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, Powys, denies abducting and murdering April, who went missing near her Machynlleth home on 1 October 2012.
Mold Crown Court has heard he accidentally ran her over in his car.Mold Crown Court has heard he accidentally ran her over in his car.
He started giving evidence in his defence on Wednesday appearing emotional as he was sworn in.He started giving evidence in his defence on Wednesday appearing emotional as he was sworn in.
April's disappearance sparked the biggest police search in UK history. She has never been found.April's disappearance sparked the biggest police search in UK history. She has never been found.
The prosecution claims he murdered April in a sexually motivated attack after abducting her as she played near her home on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate.The prosecution claims he murdered April in a sexually motivated attack after abducting her as she played near her home on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate.
However Mr Bridger says he knocked her over in his Land Rover and cannot remember what he did with her body because he was drunk and panicked.However Mr Bridger says he knocked her over in his Land Rover and cannot remember what he did with her body because he was drunk and panicked.
Giving evidence in his defence on Wednesday, he was asked if he had ever had a sexual interest in young children. He said: "No."Giving evidence in his defence on Wednesday, he was asked if he had ever had a sexual interest in young children. He said: "No."
As he was sworn in, Mr Bridger stumbled over his words and appeared emotional. He was told to speak loudly and clearly. He told his barrister Brendan Kelly QC he had had a short career with London Fire Service but quit after suffering personal problems.
His defence barrister, Brendan Kelly QC, said there would be a number of topics discussed, starting with his background. He then moved to north Wales where lived in various locations.
The defendant said he was born in Surrey and had an older sister and younger brother. He was asked about his claims of having a military career. He replied that he had made up the story after being asked about his background when he moved to Wales.
He said he was in the fire service in London for less than a year and was asked why he left, responding: "I had personal problems, I had split up with my partner at the time... we had just had a baby." "I didn't want them to know that I'd had problems in my past... that's stuck with me until now," he said.
He was aged about 20 when the child was born and went on to explain how he had encountered personal problems and then moved to Wales.
He said he knew south Wales because his grandmother lived there but moved to north Wales.
"I had bought some camping equipment and survival equipment. I lived on the beach for a couple of months," he said.
He said places he lived included Porthmadog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, and Bala. The court heard he also moved to Wrexham and Chirk.
He was also asked by Mr Kelly if he had ever been employed within the military.
He replied: "No I haven't."
Criminal convictionsCriminal convictions
Mr Kelly: "Have you in the past told people that you have been employed by the military?"
Mr Bridger: "Yes I have."
Asked why, he said: "When I moved... close to the Machynlleth area everyone seemed to want to know who I was, where I was from, my past, my present... I had always been interested in the military, I just said I was ex-army.
"I didn't want them to know that I'd had problems in my past... that's stuck with me until now."
The jury heard how his past "problems" included criminal convictions. He had pleaded guilty to offences including possession of a firearm, having an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence, theft and others. At the time he was about 19.The jury heard how his past "problems" included criminal convictions. He had pleaded guilty to offences including possession of a firearm, having an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence, theft and others. At the time he was about 19.
He was also in trouble in Aberystwyth in 1991 and was convicted of criminal damage, affray and driving with no insurance. He was convicted of driving while disqualified and without insurance a year later. In the early 1990s, he was convicted of criminal damage, affray and driving with no insurance.
Asked if he had any convictions for sexual offences, he replied: "No."Asked if he had any convictions for sexual offences, he replied: "No."
Asked if he had offences for indecent imagery, he replied: "No, not at all."Asked if he had offences for indecent imagery, he replied: "No, not at all."
Mr Kelly asked him about a time when he was dating a woman in Machynlleth. She had a sister who was also in a relationship.Mr Kelly asked him about a time when he was dating a woman in Machynlleth. She had a sister who was also in a relationship.
Mr Bridger explained the sister was "with a chap called Paul". Mr Kelly said: "And Paul is Paul, the father of April Jones?" To this he nodded, appearing emotional.Mr Bridger explained the sister was "with a chap called Paul". Mr Kelly said: "And Paul is Paul, the father of April Jones?" To this he nodded, appearing emotional.
So far, the jury has heard how he had four children with two different women. The court was told Mr Bridger went on to have two more children in the Machynlleth area who are now aged 13 and 11. The jury heard how he had had a complicated relationship history with different women and had six children with different women.
He agreed the relationship with the mother of the youngest two children was troubled. Police were called on one occasion which resulted in a conviction included battery. Mr Bridger agreed the relationship with the mother of his youngest two children was troubled. Police were called on one occasion which resulted in a conviction included battery before the relationship ended.
'Punch-up''Punch-up'
The relationship came to an end and he added: "Straight after the break-up I moved over to Australia... I wasn't going to come back... I came back to the country because I missed my children..." The court heard how his last conviction was in April 2007 after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to four months in prison which was suspended for 18 months.
The court heard how his final conviction was in April 2007 after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to four months in prison which was suspended for 18 months.
The jury was told Mr Bridger had had a complicated relationship history with different women.
Mr Bridger's alcohol problem was also discussed.Mr Bridger's alcohol problem was also discussed.
He said he had turned to drink after relationship break-ups but found it especially difficult after one particular split. From early 2010 to the day he was arrested he said he had been drinking heavily.He said he had turned to drink after relationship break-ups but found it especially difficult after one particular split. From early 2010 to the day he was arrested he said he had been drinking heavily.
Asked if he had ever registered as an alcoholic, he said he had "picked the phone up a number of times and spoken to people... I don't think I ever registered... I spoke to my doctor and said that I had a problem".
He went on to say he had been taking anti-depressants for 12 years on and off.He went on to say he had been taking anti-depressants for 12 years on and off.
Personal alarm
He said alcohol at times affected his memory and at times he had "problems remembering dates, times".He said alcohol at times affected his memory and at times he had "problems remembering dates, times".
Discussing a radio device in his car referred to in previous evidence, Mr Bridger said it was a personal alarm which would sound if two buttons were pressed simultaneously. Mr Bridger then spoke about his Land Rover car and described how people sometimes had difficulty getting into his car because of its height and also told of problems with the doors and locks.
Asked why he had wet wipes in his car, he referred to his two young children and the children of his ex-partner saying: "When you have four children... there was always wet wipes in the car... wherever we went the kids would need wiping down."
He described how people sometimes had difficulty getting into his car because of its height and also told of problems with the doors and locks.
He said neither of his partner's young children would be able to get into the car, adding "you would physically have to pick them up".He said neither of his partner's young children would be able to get into the car, adding "you would physically have to pick them up".
The jury heard how Mr Bridger had a range of jobs including bar work, chef, waiter, car recovery mechanic and forestry worker.The jury heard how Mr Bridger had a range of jobs including bar work, chef, waiter, car recovery mechanic and forestry worker.
He has also told the court he was an outdoor pursuits instructor for a school in Machynlleth and was a lifeguard in Machynlleth for one season.He has also told the court he was an outdoor pursuits instructor for a school in Machynlleth and was a lifeguard in Machynlleth for one season.
Asked about the abattoir where he worked, he was asked if he was "constantly cutting meat" to which he replied "no", adding he had "nothing to do with any knives" at first. Asked about the abattoir where he worked, he was asked if he was "constantly cutting meat" to which he replied "no", adding he had "nothing to do with any knives" at first before moving to the part of the business which was more to do with testing meat.
He said he progressed to a side of the business which was more to do with testing meat and ensuring the animals were "respected". The jury then heard about indecent cartoon images found on his computer.
Mr Kelly discussed the contents of Mr Bridger's computer and asked him about the indecent cartoon images found.
He said he had kept them to complain to the companies responsible after coming across them accidentally while looking up "cartoon things" for his daughter.He said he had kept them to complain to the companies responsible after coming across them accidentally while looking up "cartoon things" for his daughter.
He was also asked about Facebook pictures on his computer, including one of April with an older sister.He was also asked about Facebook pictures on his computer, including one of April with an older sister.
His voice broke as he said: "I didn't know at the time (who she was)."His voice broke as he said: "I didn't know at the time (who she was)."
He later told the court he had received a Facebook friendship request from April's mother Coral. He told the jury on 29 September, two days before April went missing he had gone for a mountain walk with two of his children.
The jury heard about his movements on 29 September, two days before April went missing.
He had picked up his two youngest children in the morning and gone for a mountain walk.
On their return, he said he cooked a chicken in his woodburner.On their return, he said he cooked a chicken in his woodburner.
"We cooked it and ate it and anything left over gets thrown in the fire. This has happened on a number of occasions," he said."We cooked it and ate it and anything left over gets thrown in the fire. This has happened on a number of occasions," he said.
Drinking habitsDrinking habits
The jury has previously been told how fragments of bone likely to have been from a child's skull were found in the woodburner.The jury has previously been told how fragments of bone likely to have been from a child's skull were found in the woodburner.
Mr Bridger described how he would normally clean the glass of the fire "at least once a week" and cleared the ashes "every day or every night".Mr Bridger described how he would normally clean the glass of the fire "at least once a week" and cleared the ashes "every day or every night".
He was asked about his sex life with his girlfriend and said he had erection problems which were "a lot" to do with alcohol. He was asked about his sex life with his ex-girlfriend and said he had erection problems which were "a lot" to do with alcohol.
He clarified what he had told police about his drinking habits during interview, saying he actually drank 16 to 25 cans of cider a day and a bottle to a bottle and a half of wine.He clarified what he had told police about his drinking habits during interview, saying he actually drank 16 to 25 cans of cider a day and a bottle to a bottle and a half of wine.
He said on certain occasions - such as when he was "really down" - he would buy vodka, including the day before April went missing.He said on certain occasions - such as when he was "really down" - he would buy vodka, including the day before April went missing.
He was also asked about his activity on Facebook on the day April disappeared including his viewing of a large number of pictures of a 14-year-old girl from the Machynlleth area.He was also asked about his activity on Facebook on the day April disappeared including his viewing of a large number of pictures of a 14-year-old girl from the Machynlleth area.
He described how he had heard that one of his sons was in a relationship with a local girl and had got her pregnant.He described how he had heard that one of his sons was in a relationship with a local girl and had got her pregnant.
He said he was looking at pictures of local girls to see if he could spot his son and work out who the girl was.He said he was looking at pictures of local girls to see if he could spot his son and work out who the girl was.
After lunch, the court continued to hear more evidence about the pictures on Mr Bridger's laptop, including what he viewed at about midday on the day April disappeared.
He was shown a Facebook-type picture of a young girl and said it was a picture of a friend's child which he had been sent by her parents.
Asked why he viewed a pornographic cartoon shortly afterwards, he said: "It's either to move it or it's been in the wrong folder and I have pushed it to somewhere else."
Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice.Mr Bridger also denies intending to pervert the course of justice.
The case continues.The case continues.