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Paedophile Paul Bickford visits wife’s home, group linked with him part of William Tyrrell investigation
EXCLUSIVE Taylor Auerbach
8915
DAYS after it was revealed a community group linked to paedophile Paul Bickford was being investigated by detectives attached to the hunt for missing toddler William Tyrrell, he has been photographed for
the first time visiting his “wrecked” wife’s home on the NSW mid-north coast.
Initial inquiries last night suggested Bickford was not in breach of an AVO or court orders placed on him at the time of his 16-month suspended jail sentence handed down on February 19.
The Daily Telegraph spotted Bickford — former president of support group GAPA (Grandparents As Parents Again) — leaving the home at 9.15am in a white sedan. He drove to the shops and returned roughly
15 minutes later.
“We’ve made inquiries and the indications are that he is not in breach of anything,” detective Inspector Gary Jubelin, leader of the William Tyrrell investigation strike force, said.
Bickford pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome during a drive to the shops to buy her lollies.
“He’s a bloody fool (for pleading guilty),” his wife Sandra said.
“He didn’t want to go to jail … he’s innocent.
“We’ve had a very emotional weekend. We have been interviewed by the detectives from Sydney before, they questioned everyone in our group.”
Mrs Bickford said homicide detectives had interviewed she and her husband extensively over their knowledge, if any, of William.
Mrs Bickford claimed last week that her husband was banned from living with her and the child residing at the same address. A teenage boy was also seen visiting the house yesterday while Bickford was
inside.
The family of Bickford’s victim described him as “the lowest of the low” and said they wanted him exposed as a convicted paedophile.
“It was extremely difficult and it was also extremely disappointing what the end result was — the fact that he got a 16-month slap on the wrist and let go again,” her grandfather said.
“(The victim) is very volatile. One minute she’s quite calm and totally fine, and the next minute she’s not.”
The Saturday Telegraph revealed last week that Paul Bickford was a member of a paedophile ring being looked at as part of the police investigation into William’s abduction.
Tony Jones — also a former member of GAPA — is in jail awaiting sentencing next week over indecently assaulting a different 11-year-old girl.
