UPDATE

Tia Sharp's Grandmother Christine Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder

A criminologist who spent an hour interviewing Stuart Hazell, the man wanted by police in connection with the death of schoolgirl Tia Sharp, had described his meeting with the family as "emotional", with Hazell describing his step-granddaughter as a "happy go-lucky angel".

Mark Williams-Thomas chatted the Hazell, the partner of Tia's grandmother Christine Sharp, at their home in New Addington, near Croydon, south London, on Thursday.

A body had been found by police searching Tia's grandmother's house, Scotland Yard said on Friday.

The house was cordoned off by police on Friday after bins and garages on the New Addington estate where she lived were searched.

Williams-Thomas said on Twitter that Hazell had thanked him for doing the interview. He tweeted, on hearing about the discovery of a body: "Such sad news - I stayed downstairs yesterday. The other members of the family were all upstairs. I was not allowed to go into Tia's room."


Mark Williams-Thomas
I had a good chat alone with Tia's mum, grandmother and her partner yesterday before I did the interview with Stuart Hazell

tia sharp

Tia has been missing from her grandmother's New Addington home for a week

A second tweet read: "When I last spoke to the family last night around 8pm Stuart Hazell was in the background & thanked me for the interview."

Shortly after recording the interview for ITV News, Williams-Thomas had tweeted: "Spent time with nearly all the family today very emotional."

Hazell, who was interviewed by police for more than two hours, told ITV News: "She's got no problems at all, she's a happy-go-lucky golden angel, she's perfect. There's no arguments, nothing we can think of."

Hazell said he "loved Tia to bits" like his own daughter.

SEE ALSO: The Disappearance Of Tia Sharp In Pictures


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  • Missing girl

    RETRANSMISSION IMPROVING ASPECT RATIO.BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE.Undated Metropolitan Police handout photo of Tia Sharp.

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves in a police vehicle accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police forensic units approach the sealed off home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police seal off the estate surrounding the home of Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Police dogs leave after searching the house of the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Christine Sharp, the grandmother of missing Tia Sharp leaves her home accompanied by detectives on August 10, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother, where a candle burns in the garden on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police from Durham constabulary, drafted in from Olympic duties, search garages around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: DCI Nick Scola makes a statement to the press outside the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: David Sharp makes a statement to the press concerning missng Tia Sharp, his niece, outside her grandmother's home on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: David Sharp makes a statement to the press concerning missng Tia Sharp, his niece, outside her grandmother's home on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police search refuse bins around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, in the in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • The Search Continues For Missing Schoolgirl Tia Sharp

    CROYDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Police search refuse bins around the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother on August 9, 2012 in New Addington, in the in the London Borough of Croydon, England. Tia has been missing since last friday, when she was last seen leaving her grandmother's home to go shopping in nearby Croydon. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

  • Missing girl

    Forensic police officers leave the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing school girl Tia Sharp in New Addington near Croydon today.

  • Missing girl

    Forensic police officers leave the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing school girl Tia Sharp in New Addington near Croydon today.

  • Missing Girl

    DCI Nick Scola speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon, as police continue to investigate the disappearance of Tia Sharp.

  • Missing Girl

    David Sharp, the uncle of missing Tia Sharp, speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon.

  • Missing girl

    David Sharp, the uncle of missing Tia Sharp, speaks to the media in New Addington, Croydon.

  • Missing girl

    A police officers takes a break from searching through rubbish bins near Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Police officers search through rubbish bins near Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Police officers search through rubbish bins outside Tia Sharp's grandmother's home in New Addington, London.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for the missing schoolgirl, five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for the missing schoolgirl, five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, is mobbed by the media, as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, follows a detective as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Stuart Hazell,37, the partner of Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, is mobbed by the media, as he leaves their home at the Lindens, New Addington, south east London, with detectives, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    A general view of the home Christine Sharp, grandmother of missing Tia Sharp, in New Addington, London, as police and worried community members are continuing to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    Messages are left at a bus stop near the home of Christine Sharp, grandmother of Tia Sharp, who went missing last Friday, as police and worried community members continued to search for missing the schoolgirl five days after she vanished without a trace.

  • Missing girl

    BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEUndated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of 12-year-old Tia Sharp, who was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington, south east London, at around midday on Friday.

  • Missing girl

    BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEUndated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of 12-year-old Tia Sharp, who was last seen leaving her grandmother's home in New Addington, south east London, at around midday on Friday.