Van was changed, court heard

THE man who sold the white van to Sarah Payne s alleged killer said when police showed him the vehicle after the suspect s arrest, its rear doors had been changed.

Dean Fuller, of East Grinstead, sold the F-reg Fiat Ducato Hi-Top van to Roy Whiting for 400, after advertising it in a free newspaper.

The prosecution claim that less than a week later Whiting used the van to snatch eight-year-old Sarah from the street in East Preston.

When police traced Mr Fuller, a self- employed removal man, they showed him pictures of how the van looked when they seized it. He told the jury the back doors had been changed and the interior which he had fitted with a plywood partition, wood panels and wood floor were all missing.

Mr Fuller said he bought the van, registration F694 DKN, for between 300 and 400 in October, 1999. He said it was in a tatty condition and it had a problem with an oil leak. After using it for a while, he said he decided to sell it to purchase a newer and better one.

After advertising it, a man, who it is accepted was Roy Whiting, came to look at the vehicle. "He bought it from me for 400 cash," said Mr Fuller. "He said he was something to do with building work."

The jury heard Whiting unloaded some tools from his Volvo car into the van and drove off in it after they completed some paper work for the sale.Whiting returned the next day to collect his car and telephoned Mr Fuller from Three Bridges railway station to ask for a lift.

"When I sold it to Mr Whiting it still had the partition and the wooden flooring on the sides," said Mr Fuller. He added that he left some items inside the van which he had forgotten about.

These included a white T-shirt, a clown patterned piece of material which covered up the dirty passenger s seat, a checked shirt and some black socks.

There were other items found in the van when Whiting was arrested which Mr Fuller could not be "100 per cent sure" he had left in the back of the vehicle.

Mr Fuller added that a spade, pick-axe, black plastic ties and a bottle of baby oil found in the van following Whiting s arrest had not been left behind by him.

All the trial details are in the Gazette, November 29.