Tia Sharp murder house demolished

The scene in New Addington, South London, where the row of houses in which the body of schoolgirl Tia Sharp was found are being demolished

30 June 2013

The house where schoolgirl Tia Sharp was murdered and hidden in the loft is being demolished.

Tia, who would have been 13 on Sunday, was killed by Stuart Hazell, 37, who was jailed for life with a minimum of 38 years last month.

The Old Bailey heard that Hazell sexually assaulted Tia before murdering her and hiding her body in the loft of the home he shared with her grandmother Christine Bicknell.

Hazell had lived with Ms Bicknell in New Addington, south London, for more than five years before Tia died, and developed a twisted sexual attraction for the schoolgirl who often stayed with them.

He murdered Tia when the pair were left alone on August 2 last year while Ms Bicknell worked a night shift.

He wrapped her body in a sheet and layers of plastic and hid it in the loft.

Croydon Council has said that demolition work of a number of houses will be completed by August and new homes will be built in their place.

People who lived in the properties have been rehoused.