William Tyrrell: Paedophiles ‘met’ the day toddler vanished, both deny involvement
New evidence has emerged that two convicted paedophiles who are “persons of interest” in the case of missing four-year-old William Tyrrell may have met up on the day he disappeared.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NEW evidence has emerged that two convicted paedophiles who are “persons of interest” in the case of missing four-year-old William Tyrrell may have met up on the day he disappeared.
The family of convicted paedophile Tony Jones say he told them on the day William vanished that he was going to visit convicted child abuser Paul Bickford, and that when Jones returned in the afternoon he was drunk.
The alibi Jones has provided to police is that he was out in the bush collecting scrap metal.
The two friends, who were both members of grandparent social group Grandparents as Parents Again operating around Port Macquarie, have been questioned by police investigating the then three-year-old’s suspected abduction from a home in Kendall.
Both men have denied any involvement.
Jones was jailed in September for the aggravated indecent assault of a young girl. Bickford is serving a suspended sentence for indecently assaulting a girl suffering Asperger’s syndrome.
The Daily Telegraph understands Bickford was driving a grey sedan at the time of William’s disappearance, and Jones was driving a white station wagon.
Police have said two vehicles matching those descriptions were spotted by William’s mother on the day the then three-year-old went missing from a home in Kendall, near Port Macquarie.
The white station wagon belonging to Jones was towed away days later by Strike Force Rosann detectives for forensic examination.
Bickford has said at the time William was allegedly snatched he was having lunch in Port Macquarie with friends.
Outside Port Macquarie courthouse for a separate matter last month, Bickford denied he was close friends with Jones.
“As far as we are concerned and as far as we remember, Paul Bickford was living in the pub at the time of the Tyrrell disappearance,” a statement from the family of Tony Jones reads.
“He knew Paul Bickford was in the pub as well as we do. It’s sketchy as to if he said he was going to see Paul Bickford at the same time.
“But we believe Paul Bickford’s name was mentioned in passing.”
Another close relative said Jones had said he was “going to see Paul Bickford” and collect scrap.
“Paul Bickford and Tony Jones often went fishing and I can categorically without any fear call bullshit on the fact Paul Bickford and Tony Jones were simply ‘acquaintances’,” the statement reads.
“They were close friends, no doubt about it.”
NSW Police were made aware of the conversation Jones had with his family months ago. “Detectives have spoken to hundreds of people as part of their investigations, and continue to follow up information,” a police spokesman said yesterday.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, it’s not appropriate we discuss who is or who is not a person of interest.”
Jones is also friends with Bill Spedding, a washing machine repairman and an earlier person of interest.
Attempts by The Daily Telegraph to get in contact with Bickford yesterday were unsuccessful.
Spedding, Jones and Bickford have all previously denied any involvement in William’s disappearance.
William Tyrrell has been missing since September 2014. Anybody with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
Man arrested in Queensland after young dad killed in Mudgee stabbing
Tributes have begun flowing for the 22-year-old father, who was allegedly murdered in front of shocked locals late on Saturday night.
Read more
‘Is daddy home?’ Heartbreaking cost of state’s horror road stats
As frightening new data shows the NSW road toll is the worst it’s been in 15 years, a Sydney mother reveals the trauma she and her young family have gone through after her husband was left with life-threatening injuries following a shocking crash in Terrey Hills nine days ago.
Read more