I want to end it all
By Hayley Barlow
THE heartbroken father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne is in hospital today after attempting to take his own life.
In a desperate cry for help, Mike Payne, 35, who has been suffering from severe depression, rang wife Sara to say he had taken some pills, then threatened to take more.
He told Sara he didn't want to carry on living and that he longed to end it all.
Proud
Sara, 35, said: "My initial reaction was obvious concern. After talking to Mike, I realised immediate medical attention wasn't necessary, but he desperately wanted help.
"We spoke on the phone for several hours and I assured him that together we could overcome this.
"We went to his doctors the next day and they advised he should be admitted to hospital immediately for a short stay with intensive therapy.
"I am very proud of Mike for bravely coming to terms with his problems and putting me and the children first by not going through with ending it all.
"It's no secret that Mike and I have had our problems and, since Sarah was taken from us, life has been a constant struggle.
"For Mike to seek the help that he needs shows remarkable strength of character for a man who has been to hell and back and that's what I have always admired about him.
"For Mike to seek the help that he needs shows remarkable strength of character for a man who has been to hell and back and that's what I have always admired about him.
"I believe that all of this shows that Mike's family mean more to him than life itself and what a truly loving husband and father he is.
"Together as a family we will beat this."
The Paynes' lives were turned upside down on July 1 four years ago when their eight-year-old daughter Sarah went missing while playing with her brothers and sister in a cornfield.
Sixteen days later her body was discovered in a field near Pulborough in West Sussex about 15 miles from where she disappeared.
Sixteen days later her body was discovered in a field near Pulborough in West Sussex about 15 miles from where she disappeared.
Convicted paedophile Roy Whiting was arrested within days and was later found guilty of her murder and jailed for life.
Brave mum Sara joined forces with the News of the World to lobby for Sarah's Law—to give parents the right to know about child sex offenders in their area.
She threw herself into the fight and campaigned tirelessly, helping us win major changes in the law to protect children.
But grief-stricken Mike began to withdraw—the start of a downward spiral which ended in drink-fuelled rows with his wife.
Although they appeared united in public, his relationship with Sara erupted into violence when they flew to New York in October 2000.
Although they appeared united in public, his relationship with Sara erupted into violence when they flew to New York in October 2000.
They were taking part in Trevor McDonald's Tonight show about Megan's Law, which gives US parents the right to know of paedophiles in their area.
Mike said: "We were rowing because I didn't want to be there. We were at each other's throats.
"I slapped Sara in the face, then stormed out of the room and went for a few drinks. That was the way I coped. I came back an hour later and said sorry, but the incidents began to get more frequent."
Pain
Michael's frustration boiled over at an awards ceremony in London in 2002 when he got drunk and stormed out after smashing a restaurant window.
By then he was drinking up to eight cans of lager a day to numb the pain. Sara was so depressed she found it difficult to leave the house and sat watching TV for hours.
Despite their problems, Sara conceived a new baby in February 2003.
Sadly, even their joy over the pregnancy was not enough to re-unite the pair who by now were living separate lives. They announced their split in September.
Baby Ellie was born in December, when Mike promised: "Although I won't be living at home I'll always be there for all our children in every way possible."
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