VIDEO: CCTV played to court as Deli owner admits murdering Clydebank schoolgirl Paige Doherty
A man has admitted murdering 15-year-old schoolgirl Paige Doherty.
A deli owner knifed tragic teenager Paige Doherty more 140 times in a brutal murder at his shop.
John Leathem carried out the frenzied attack on the 15 year-old – all within 10 minutes of her popping in to buy a roll and sausage.
Leathem apparently “panicked” after it was alleged Paige threatened to report he had sexually assaulted her for him not giving her a job.
The 32 year-old went on to put her body in the boot of his car before dumping her remains in woods.
Leathem – described as a “normal and ordinary person” - today pled guilty to a murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.
A large number of Paige's family and friends – included her mum and step-father – were present to hear the horrific details of her death.
Some wept during the near two-hour hearing. One man was heard saying “b*d” as the events of March 19 this year were narrated.
Leathem faces a life sentence when he returns to the dock next month – as a judge told him he was guilty of “a savage attack on a child”.
The dad showed no emotion as he was lead handcuffed to the cells.
Prosecutor Iain McSporran told how Paige was killed after visiting Leathem's Delicious Deli shop in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire.
The teenager – who had spent the night at a friend's house – had gone there before planning to start a shift at a hairdressers in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire.
Footage played in court showed Paige making her way to the deli at 8.21am.
Mr McSporran said: “That was the last time she was seen or captured on CCTV alive by anyone other than by Leathem.”
Just 10 minutes after Paige entered the deli, the shutter to the front door had been pulled down.
It is during that time Leathem repeatedly stabbed petite Paige, who it is thought tried to fight off her crazed attacker.
The killer was next spotted around 9.27am as the owner of a nearby hairdressers peered into the deli.
Leathem pulled up the shutter and said: “What a morning – the lassie didn't turn up. I had a nose bleed and I need to collect my car.”
He then jogged off towards his home – around a minute away – before returning in his silver Ford Focus.
At 10am, Leathem then began a bid to cover up the brutal killing.
He bought bin bags and anti bacterial wipes from a shop next door before opening the boot of his car.
Five minutes later, haunting CCTV footage showed him taking Paige's body from the deli to his Ford.
Mr McSporran: “The body of Paige Doherty was wrapped in what appeared to be black bin bags...her white socked foot protruding.
“He placed her body in the rear of the car and closed the boot.”
Leathem went on to change his trousers and bought bottles of bleach before going back to his shop.
But, Mr McSporran told the court: “The shop then remained open for business with Leathem fully engaged in preparing food and serving customers until 3.15pm that afternoon.”
Prosecutors believe he had initially moved Paige's body from his car to his garden shed.
Concerns were raised that night when no-one had heard from Paige. Her mum Pamela Munro went to police and a missing person inquiry was sparked.
The next day – despite what he had done - Leathem went on a family outing to Balmaha with his wife and young child.
As Paige's frantic mum tried to find her, one of Leathem's workers contacted him on her behalf.
He initially lied that he did not know who the teenager was. However, he later said she had been in to buy “a roll and sausage” that morning.
Around 6am on March 21, Leathem moved to get rid of Paige's remains.
His car was clocked on CCTV at the area where her body was dumped – a wooded area close to the city's Great Western Road less than a mile from the deli.
The killer then returned to his deli to open up as usual.
But, around noon that day, two people made the grim find of Paige's corpse within undergrowth.
The missing persons search soon turned into a high-profile murder probe.
Leathem was again quizzed by police having been spoken to during the initial inquiry.
Investigations then revealed Paige had gone to the deli on March 19 “but had not walked away”.
It lead to Leathem's shop, home and car being searched by detectives as police closed in on the killer.
He generally made no comment to officers after being held.
However, he denied Paige's blood would be found in his deli – asked was he sure, he replied: “positive”.
Blood was said to have been found in “numerous locations” despite “obvious efforts to clean up”.
A post mortem revealed The tragic teenager had sustained “a large number of sharp force injuries”.
The most significant was a neck wound caused by “repeated stabbing”.
Mr McSporran said – in addition to that injury – there were at least another 146 wounds.
He said a number were “typically defensive in nature” indicating Paige was “conscious and capable of intentional movement” for at least part of the fatal attack.
Leathem's lawyer said the killer had been a “normal and ordinary person” before the murder.
Ian Duguid QC, defending, said what happened was a “gross over-reaction” to a comment Paige allegedly made.
It was claimed the teenager had gone to the deli thinking Leathem may employ her, but that he told her he had other “candidates to interview”.
Paige was then said to have told Leathem: “I thought I was getting the job. I will just say that you touched me.”
Mr Duguid said Leathem suddenly stood up at this comment before Paige started screaming.
The advocate went on: “At that point, he reached across for a knife...he went to grab the knife and stabbed her.”
It was claimed Leathem was apparently concerned at wrongly being known as a pervert.
The court heard Leathem's twin brother had previously been convicted of a sex offence and the killer was aware of the “difficulties” he had suffered.
Mr Duguid concluded: “It is not my position that the nature of the comment would mitigate the number of stab wounds or the brutality of the attack.
“I don't know if it is true or not, but I am only taking the instructions of the accused for what took place.”
But, the QC added Leathem had always “accepted responsibility” for the death.
Judge Lady Rae deferred sentencing for reports until next month.
She told Leathem: “Whatever your reasons, this was a savage and frenzied attack on a child.”