Sara Williams was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, on 1 March 1969. She left school in 1985, at the age of 16. Shortly after, she met her future husband Michael Payne. They married in West Sussex on 4 August 1990 and announced they had separated in September 2003, blaming the strain of coping with the murder of their daughter Sarah three years earlier. They had four surviving children; two sons and two daughters, the youngest daughter born in late 2003 just after their separation. On 27 October 2014, Michael Payne was found dead at the age of 46 at his home in Maidstone, Kent. He and his wife had been separated for 11 years, despite media reports in the early stages of their separation that they had been hoping to get back together at some stage. The death of Michael Payne was not treated as suspicious, and was believed to have been caused by an alcoholism related illness. It was believed that he died several days before his body was found. Sara Payne also endured the death of her 44-year-old brother Paul from cancer in January 2003, and her mother Elizabeth Williams died from the same illness just over a year later - media sources including the Daily Mirror wrongly reported at the time that it was Lesley Payne, the step-mother of Michael Payne, who had died. Sara Payne's father, Brian Williams, was left partly paralysed by an aneurysm at the age of 55; he died in 2007, having been disabled for nearly 20 years. Brian and Elizabeth Williams separated in 1986.
Since the murder of her daughter Sarah in July 2000, she has campaigned for parents to be given the right to know if a convicted child sex offender is living in their community. In 2008, eight years after the start of the campaign, a pilot scheme was introduced by four British police forces. If successful, it may be extended across the country in the future. In 2004, she published a book, , which was centred on her daughter's murder, the tragedy's effect on the family, and her campaign for Sarah's Law, as well as an opening chapter which detailed her life in the 15 years preceding the murder. Payne has continually denied accusations that she has financially profited from her daughter's death through book sales and regular media appearances. As of 2019, Payne is still involved in advocating for children's rights through The Phoenix Post organization which she co-founded.
Awards and honours
On 31 December 2008, Sara Payne was made an MBE in the New Year Honours list. On 26 January 2009, she was appointed Victims Champion by the Justice SecretaryJack Straw. On 9 June 2012, Sara Payne was granted an Honorary Doctorate by the Open University at a graduation ceremony held at Ely Cathedral. Payne is currently a trustee of The Phoenix Trust, an organization which assisted victims of child sex abuse, and combatted such abuse.
Health
On 23 December 2009, Sara Payne was taken to St George's Hospital, Tooting, south London, following complications after brain surgery in the summer of 2008 to cure a ruptured aneurysm. On 24 December 2009, it was stated that she was critically ill. Later reports indicated that she had responded well to treatment and she came out of hospital several weeks later.
On 28 July 2011, it was reported that Sara Payne's mobile phone was one of those targeted by the News of the World as part of the News International phone hacking scandal, which had led to owner Rupert Murdoch's decision to close the newspaper down soon after the allegations were publicised earlier that month. She was said to be "absolutely devastated and deeply disappointed" at the disclosure, while a colleague close to her said that she was "in bits" over the affair.
