Latest news with #MarkBridger
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
My daughter April Jones was killed by paedophile – forget chemical castration, predators like him should have it cut off
The mum of murdered schoolgirl April Jones has backed the government's bid to chemically castrate paedophiles and rapists. Coral Jones, whose five-year-old daughter was kidnapped and murdered by sick paedophile Mark Bridger, said he and all other sex offenders should lose their right to a sexual urge. 5 5 5 Bridger was given a whole-life term for abducting and murdering April on October 1, 2012, in Machynlleth, mid Wales. The Judge said he sexually abused the schoolgirl before disposing of her body. But the paedophile has never confessed to his crime and the location of April's remains is still unknown. Here mum Coral gives her view on the government's latest proposals. By Coral Jones When April vanished almost 13 years ago my whole world was thrown upside down. I will never get over the heartache of losing my beautiful girl that day and when I later learned that sick paedophile Mark Bridger had kidnapped and murdered her, I was sick to my stomach. I cannot begin to describe the hatred I still have for him to this day. During sentencing trial judge Mr Justice Griffith-Williams told Bridger that there was no doubt in his mind that he was 'a paedophile, who has, for some time harboured sexual and morbid fantasies about young girls'. Police also found Bridger's laptop containing a library of vile sexual images of children. Chilling moment April Jones' 'fantasist' killer Mark Bridger lied to police during interrogation And for me vile paedophiles like him will never change. They will always fantasise about young children and harbour sickening sexual thoughts. The government's proposal to chemically castrate paedophiles and rapists like him, is something that has been on my mind for over a decade. I've said from word go that this should happen and I'm surprised it has taken so long. I would welcome any steps to chemically castrate offenders like Mark Bridger. To be honest, if I had it my way he should have it chopped off completely, but I can't see the justice secretary agreeing to that. Putting a paedophile or rapist's name on the sex offenders register is no longer enough of a deterrent - for too long we've turned a blind eye to it. Many sex offenders continue to reoffend, sometimes over and over again. Bridger won't ever see the light of day for what he did, but it keeps me awake at night that he still has sexual fantasties about my daughter and other children. It makes my body shiver, it makes me feel sick. All prisoners who have sexually abused children should have this sexual urge removed - that goes for men and women. If they've done the deed they should pay the price. They don't deserve to enjoy the same sexual urges as everyone else. The only question is how long does the procedure last? Is it permanent? Can its be reversed. All these things need to be addressed. In my book sex offenders should also be sterilised so they can't have their own children and continue the cycle of abuse. There will always be people who are against strong measures like this. They will cite human rights as the reason not to act - but until they have lost a child or seen a family member sexually abused, they will never truly understand why this is so important. Ever since April was taken from us I have campaigned for changes in the law. I have fought to introduce April's Law which would rid the internet of child abuse images. Easily accessibly vile online pictures are fuelling paedophiles' evil crimes and myself and others have demanded search engine firms should do much more to prevent people posting and accessing the shocking content. I'll never stop pushing for change and I welcome the latest proposals by the government. It's time we all took a stand. 5
Sky News
14-05-2025
- Sky News
April Jones: Tributes paid to murdered schoolgirl's father after 'unexpected' death
Tributes have been paid to the father of murdered schoolgirl April Jones who has died suddenly aged 55. April, who was five years old at the time of her death, was taken from outside her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales, in October 2012. She was murdered by paedophile Mark Bridger, who was sentenced to a whole life tariff. April's father Paul Jones contracted a brain disease in 2018, six years after the death of his daughter. Announcing his death on Tuesday, Mr Jones's stepdaughter Jazz Jones said: "It is with broken hearts that my brother and I wish to let people know our dad (Paul Jones) passed away early hours this morning." Miss Jones said his death was "very unexpected" and the family were "all in shock". She asked for privacy as the family mourned the loss of Mr Jones. In a social media post, family friend Allan Hughes described Mr Jones as "a truly amazing friend". "A lot of you knew him as the father of poor April Jones who was taken from us in 2012," he said. "But myself and many more know him from being a great dad, son, brother and friend, also as part of the family." He said Mr Jones would now be "reunited with April and [his] mam" and added that his "thoughts and prayers" were with his family. After Mr Jones contracted the brain condition encephalitis in 2018, he suffered memory loss. He had to learn of his daughter's death for a second time after he was diagnosed with the condition.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Father of murdered April Jones dies suddenly of brain disease
The father of a five-year-old girl who was murdered in 2012 has died suddenly at the age of 55, his family has Jones was diagnosed with a brain disease in 2018, six years after the death of his daughter April was abducted from near her home in Machynlleth, Powys, and murdered by paedophile Mark Jones' stepdaughter, Jazz Jones, said on Tuesday: "It is with broken hearts that my brother and I wish to let people know our dad (Paul Jones) passed away early hours this morning." "It was very unexpected and we are all in shock."Harley and myself will update people with further information as we know more but please give us our privacy to mourn our loss."April went missing on 1 October 2012 but despite the biggest police search in British history, her body has never been Jones campaigned for tougher rules around the use of children's images online as well as supporting other families of missing people and urging potential abusers to seek friend Allan Hughes described Mr Jones as "amazing"."A lot of you knew him as the father of poor April Jones who was taken from us in 2012," he said in a post on social media."But myself and many more know him from being a great dad, son, brother and friend, also as part of the family."We grew up together in Penparcau and had many adventures."Now you will be reunited with April and your mam. Rest now peacefully Paul Jones. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family." Mr Jones suffered memory loss after contracting the brain condition encephalitis in 2018 and had to learn for a second time of his daughter's mother, Coral Jones, told a Sunday newspaper how her husband had recognised the youngster in family photos used to jog his memory."He asked, 'what happened to April?' I had to tell him she was no longer with us and that she'd been killed."He broke down. It was an awful conversation because he was so emotional and it was so hard for me to speak about it."Bridger, who was convicted of April's murder, child abduction and perverting the course of justice, refused to tell police what he had done with the youngster's body - although officers did recover fragments of her skull from his former lifeguard was sentenced to a whole life tariff, meaning he will die behind bars.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
Paul Jones: Tributes as father of murdered schoolgirl April Jones dies suddenly
Paul Jones, the father of murdered schoolgirl April Jones, has died suddenly at the age of 55. Mr. Jones passed away from a brain disease he contracted in 2018, adding another layer of tragedy to a family already grappling with immense grief. His daughter, five-year-old April, was abducted from outside her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales, in October 2012. Paedophile Mark Bridger was later convicted of her murder, though April's body was never recovered. The case gripped the nation, sparking a massive search effort and an outpouring of support for the Jones family. The news of Mr. Jones's death was announced on Tuesday by his stepdaughter, Jazz Jones. This latest loss compounds the family's enduring heartache following April's tragic disappearance and murder. 'It is with broken hearts that my brother and I wish to let people know our dad (Paul Jones) passed away early hours this morning,' she said. 'It was very unexpected and we are all in shock. 'Harley and myself will update people with further information as we know more but please give us our privacy to mourn our loss.' Family friend Allan Hughes said in a post on social media: 'Just heard of the sad passing of a truly amazing friend Paul Jones in the early hours of Tuesday morning. 'A lot of you knew him as the father of poor April Jones who was taken from us in 2012. 'But myself and many more know him from being a great dad, son, brother and friend, also as part of the family. 'We grew up together in Penparcau and had many adventures. 'Now you will be reunited with April and your mam. Rest now peacefully Paul Jones. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family.' Mr Jones suffered memory loss after contracting the brain condition encephalitis in 2018 and had to learn for a second time of his daughter's death. April's mother, Coral Jones, told the Sunday People newspaper how her husband had recognised the youngster in family photos used to jog his memory. 'He asked, 'What happened to April?' I had to tell him she was no longer with us and that she'd been killed. 'He broke down. It was an awful conversation because he was so emotional and it was so hard for me to speak about it.' Bridger, who was convicted of April's murder, child abduction and perverting the course of justice, refused to tell police what he had done with the youngster's body – although officers did recover fragments of her skull from his fireplace. The former lifeguard was sentenced to a whole life tariff, meaning he will die behind bars.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Father of April Jones dies aged 56 - 13 years after the five-year-old was kidnapped outside her home and murdered
The father of murdered schoolgirl April Jones has died at the age of 56, leaving his family heartbroken. Paul Jones, who previously suffered from encephalitis - a serious condition that causes swelling the brain, passed away yesterday morning. It is believed he was being cared for at a specialist home in Swansea after the illness damaged his memory in 2018. Paying tribute, Jazz Jones wrote on Facebook: 'It is with broken hearts that my brother and I wish to let people know our dad (Paul Jones) passed away in the early hours of this morning . 'It was very unexpected and we are all in shock.' April, five, was snatched from outside her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales, in October 2012 before being murdered by paedophile Mark Bridger. Bridger refused to tell police what he had done with the youngster's body – although officers did recover fragments of her skull from his fireplace. It was previously reported that Paul, who separated from April's mother Coral in 2019, had to suffer the devastation of learning of his daughter's death twice. In 2018, Paul asked why April had not been to see him as he recovered from a severe case of encephalitis, a potentially lethal brain condition, which causes memory loss. It is understood he spent more than a year recovering in hospital before being taken into care. April's mother, Coral, told the Sunday People how Paul had recognised the youngster in family photos used to jog his memory. 'I had to tell him she was no longer with us and that she'd been killed,' she said. 'He broke down. It was an awful conversation because he was so emotional and it was so hard for me to speak about it. 'I couldn't go on, I just couldn't tell him any more. It was like reliving it all over again.' April parents' marriage withstood the immense strain of the harrowing ordeal of her murder, although Pauls' illness came as a major blow. Coral said: 'How much more can my family take? The search for April (pictured) was the largest search for a missing person in the UK, and lasted until April 22, 2013 'I've already lost my daughter and now I have lost my soulmate and my rock and I feel so alone. 'Paul is the only person who can truly understand the pain I have felt over losing April.' Bridger was jailed for life for April's murder in 2013 but has refused to admit that he killed her. Her disappearance sparked the largest police search in British history, and her killer tried to cover his tracks by helping with the search before his arrest. Police believe Bridger dismembered April before dumping her body parts at various locations in the hills, rivers and forests surrounding his home in Ceinws, Mid Wales, after traces of her blood were found all over his rented cottage. Police raided his home and found evidence linked to the murder and a cache of child porn on his computer, including Facebook pictures of April and other local girls. Pools of April's blood were found under the carpet in front of the living room fire where small fragments of her bones were recovered by police. April's blood was also found in the bathroom and hallway of the cottage despite a desperate bid by Bridger to clean up his rented home using detergents and bleach. Father-of-six Bridger was given a whole-life tariff by a judge in May 2013 at Mold Crown Court after he was found guilty of her kidnap and murder. Sentencing Bridger, Mr Justice Griffith Williams said: 'There is no doubt in my mind that you are a paedophile, who has for some time harboured sexual and morbid fantasies about young girls.' He said Bridger abducted April for a 'sexual purpose' after he had been jilted by his girlfriend and then murdered the schoolgirl and disposed of her body to 'hide the evidence of your sexual abuse of her'.
