Sarah Payne's father hit wife, court hears

Michael Payne, 36, was yesterday given a 24-month community order and ordered to pay Sara Payne £400 compensation.

He was charged after he attacked Sara, from whom he separated 18 months ago, at her home last month.

Payne also admitted criminal damage on a moped on the same occasion.

Sarah, eight, went missing from near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, East Preston, near Littlehampton, in July 2000.

Her body was found later that month and Roy Whiting was jailed for life in December 2001 after being found guilty of murder.

Michael Payne, of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, yesterday left Staines Magistrates Court without commenting to reporters.

Doug Lewis, prosecuting, said Payne had kicked and punched Mrs Payne, although he had denied kicking her.

Mr Lewis said Payne, who had been drinking, went to the house at 4.30pm on April 9.

He left but returned at 8.30pm, still showing the effects of alcohol, before leaving soon afterwards.

An "angry" Payne came back a third time at 11.15pm and attacked his estranged wife.

After the fracas was broken up, Payne said "I've done it now" and left.

Mrs Payne later heard a cracking noise from the garden, where Payne was hitting a moped with a metal bar.

When she asked why he had done it, he replied "payback", the court heard.

Payne was arrested at the scene but said his memory of the events was hazy.

He claimed Mrs Payne had slapped him first, although not hard.

The court also heard that Payne, who is unemployed, had one previous caution relating to Mrs Payne.

Jocelynne Freeman, defending, told magistrates Payne had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

She added: "He accepts that he assaulted his wife and clearly he shouldn't have done that."

Payne was also ordered to complete a domestic abuse programme by chair of magistrates Richard Doran.

He was told to pay £55 costs in addition to the £400 compensation to Mrs Payne and that he should pay at a rate of £10 a fortnight.