the number of high risk sex offenders imprisoned there.

Whiting had previously been convicted of abducting and indecently assaulting an young girl before Sarah’s murder.

Three years after Sarah’s murder, her father admitted his marriage had collapsed after he and his wife Sara struggled with their grief as the loss of their beloved daughter tore apart their 18-year marriage.

PA

Tragic: Michael and Sara split up after they lost their daughter

His ex-wife Sara Payne tweeted a link to a report of her former husband’s death.

As news of his death was made public, condolences started pouring in on the social networking site.

Twitter user Abby Kildunne @Abby_7 said: “Wow, sad news about Michael Payne. Years of being unable to cope with the loss of a child has literally destroyed him.”

Struggle: Michael battled with alcoholaddiction

In December 2011, Michael was jailed for 16 months for attacking his brother in an booze fuelled rage.

He glassed Stephen Payne on the back of the head, arm and hand after both men had drunk a large amount of alcohol, though his brother pleaded for the unlawful wounding charges to be dropped and issued a retraction statement to the judge.

Sentencing Payne, Judge Jeremy Carey said he had the “deepest sympathy” for the loss of his daughter but the offence warranted a jail sentence – even though his brother had tried to retract his statement to police.

Sarah’s Law allows concerned parents or grandparents to contact police to find out if someone who has contact with a child has a history of child sex offending.

Michael Payne’s children paid tribute to