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April Jones accused admits lying about military past April Jones accused admits lying about military past
(35 minutes later)
The man accused of abducting and murdering the schoolgirl April Jones in a "sexually motivated" attack has admitted to a jury that he lied about having a military past.The man accused of abducting and murdering the schoolgirl April Jones in a "sexually motivated" attack has admitted to a jury that he lied about having a military past.
Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, mid-Wales , denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body.Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, mid-Wales , denies abduction, murder and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body.
On Wednesday Bridger, a former abattoir worker, took to the witness box and answered questions from his barrister, Brendan Kelly QC, about his history and about why he told the police he had been trained by the SAS and seconded to the British army. On Wednesday, Bridger, a former abattoir worker, took to the witness box and answered questions from his barrister, Brendan Kelly QC, about his history and about why he told the police he had been trained by the SAS and seconded to the British army.
Bridger's voice broke as he took the oath, and he had a sip of water and appeared to compose himself before beginning his testimony.Bridger's voice broke as he took the oath, and he had a sip of water and appeared to compose himself before beginning his testimony.
Kelly asked him: "You were asked a number of questions about your military experience. Have you ever been employed by the military?"Kelly asked him: "You were asked a number of questions about your military experience. Have you ever been employed by the military?"
Bridger, wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and with a clearly visible snake tattoo on his left forearm, said: "No, I have not."Bridger, wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and with a clearly visible snake tattoo on his left forearm, said: "No, I have not."
"Have you in the past told people that you have been employed by the military?" Kelly asked."Have you in the past told people that you have been employed by the military?" Kelly asked.
"Yes I have," Bridger replied."Yes I have," Bridger replied.
When Kelly asked why he had told people that lie, Bridger 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.When Kelly asked why he had told people that lie, Bridger 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.
"So I had always been interested in the military. I just said I am ex-military and people just took that as what I did. I didn't want them to know I had had problems with my past. That stuck with me for … until now.""So I had always been interested in the military. I just said I am ex-military and people just took that as what I did. I didn't want them to know I had had problems with my past. That stuck with me for … until now."
Bridger told Mold crown court that he was born on 6 November 1965 in Surrey and served as an engineering apprentice after failing to complete an engineering diploma at Croydon College.Bridger told Mold crown court that he was born on 6 November 1965 in Surrey and served as an engineering apprentice after failing to complete an engineering diploma at Croydon College.
After working as a welder for some time he began work as a firefighter with London fire brigade. But he told the court he had to quit after six months when he was 19 or 20 when his girlfriend got pregnant.After working as a welder for some time he began work as a firefighter with London fire brigade. But he told the court he had to quit after six months when he was 19 or 20 when his girlfriend got pregnant.
He said: "I had personal problems. I had split up with my partner at the time. We had just had a baby."He said: "I had personal problems. I had split up with my partner at the time. We had just had a baby."
He said he left the area and moved to Wales when he fell out with his parents over the baby as there were "complications" with them seeing the child.He said he left the area and moved to Wales when he fell out with his parents over the baby as there were "complications" with them seeing the child.
"In a short while I had major arguments with the family and lost contact," he told the jury."In a short while I had major arguments with the family and lost contact," he told the jury.
He said when he moved to Wales he had nothing and was at first living in a tent on the beach when he was about 21 or 22 before he got a job.He said when he moved to Wales he had nothing and was at first living in a tent on the beach when he was about 21 or 22 before he got a job.
April's disappearance, on 1 October last year, sparked the biggest search operation in British policing history. Her body has never been found.April's disappearance, on 1 October last year, sparked the biggest search operation in British policing history. Her body has never been found.
The prosecution say Bridger snatched and murdered April in a sexually motivated attack. Bridger says he accidentally killed April when he ran her over and accepts that he must have got rid of her body. The prosecution say Bridger snatched and murdered April in a sexually motivated attack. Bridger says he accidentally killed April when he ran her over and accepts he must have got rid of her body.
He says he cannot remember how he disposed of the body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic.He says he cannot remember how he disposed of the body because he was suffering memory loss caused by alcohol and panic.
Earlier the trial heard that Bridger viewed images of child abuse images on his laptop on the day April went missing and that forensic investigators discovered traces of April's blood in Bridger's living room, hall and bathroom.Earlier the trial heard that Bridger viewed images of child abuse images on his laptop on the day April went missing and that forensic investigators discovered traces of April's blood in Bridger's living room, hall and bathroom.
The jury was taken through Bridger's past criminal convictions. He had pleaded guilty in all previous cases and had no convictions for sexual offences or child abuse images, the court heard.The jury was taken through Bridger's past criminal convictions. He had pleaded guilty in all previous cases and had no convictions for sexual offences or child abuse images, the court heard.
The first convictions were when he was 19, for which he received two years' probation. Bridger pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the attempted taking of a car, possession of a firearm, having an imitation firearm, theft and two counts of obtaining property by deception.The first convictions were when he was 19, for which he received two years' probation. Bridger pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the attempted taking of a car, possession of a firearm, having an imitation firearm, theft and two counts of obtaining property by deception.
He said the charges arose when he was going to private land owned by a friend to fire some blanks. The land was 15 miles away, so he tried to take a car and was spotted and the police were called. He also wrote cheques from a stolen chequebook, he said. He told the jury he had had no intention of robbing a post office, as the prosecution at the time claimed.He said the charges arose when he was going to private land owned by a friend to fire some blanks. The land was 15 miles away, so he tried to take a car and was spotted and the police were called. He also wrote cheques from a stolen chequebook, he said. He told the jury he had had no intention of robbing a post office, as the prosecution at the time claimed.
In January 1991 he pleaded guilty at Aberystwyth magistrates court to criminal damage, affray and having no insurance, arising out of a road rage incident when he hit the bonnet of another driver's car with his hand. The following year he was convicted for more motoring matters, driving while disqualified and without insurance. In January 1991, he pleaded guilty at Aberystwyth magistrates court to criminal damage, affray and having no insurance, arising out of a road rage incident when he hit the bonnet of another driver's car with his hand. The following year he was convicted for more motoring matters, driving while disqualified and without insurance.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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