Day four in court (From Free Press Series)

Day four in court

YOUNG JENNA loved her stepfather and was happy to take on his name the court heard from mum Desiree.

But she grew into a rebellious teenager and gave both Michael Baldwin and her mum hell jurors were told.

Desiree said Jenna was more than willing to change her name to Baldwin when she was five. But she said the relationship changed when Josh, her son with Baldwin, was born.

The 40-year-old, who lives in Limekiln Road, went on to say Baldwin, who was working at the Avana Bakery, in Rogerstone, she first met him in 1990, started working at the B&Q superstore in Cwmbran without telling her.

She said she eventually found out about her husband working at B&Q when her brother recognised him in the store one day.

She also told the court that when she first met Baldwin he had told her he had been in the Parachute Regiment of the British Army, but was pensioned off when he fell out of a plane and hurt his knee.

Mr Aubrey asked whether he had such a pension and Desiree replied that he did not.

The jury also heard how Baldwin later had a vasectomy and how he was taking Viagra from 1995 onwards.

TEARFUL Desiree Baldwin told jurors how her last conversation with Jenna, ended with the teenager swearing at her and walking out.

She said the teenager returned after a spell at her aunt's, and she (Desiree) cooked her a favourite meal. The two got on until the subject of school came up and then got into an argument, ending with Jenna walking out.

The court also heard how Jenna had gone to live with a school friend last June, leaving Desiree at the end of her tether.

She said Jenna returned a few days later and they agreed to make a go of things. She also told jurors her husband, Michael, was "spiteful" towards Jenna and her brother, Josh.

Desiree said Baldwin would often interrupt a programme Jenna was watching and switch channels to suit himself.

Mr Aubrey, prosecuting, asked whether Desiree spoke to Baldwin about it. "No, I don't think I did," Desiree said, adding Jenna grew up almost overnight after a family holiday to Corfu.

Jenna's relationship with Baldwin also changed. She used to refer to him as "Baldy" - knowing he was sensitive to his hair loss.

The family were going to miss a holiday so he could have treatment at a hair clinic.

Prosecutor David Aubrey, QC, asked whether Jenna was aware of Baldwin's dislike of going bald, and her mother said: "I heard her calling him Baldy a few times, but it was usually in a sort of jokey way."

Desiree told the court Jenna was a messy teenager, driving Baldwin "insane."

JENNA became uncontrollable at the age of 13, dating an older boy and missing school, her mum told the court.

Desiree said she was unhappy about the age gap between her daughter and Christopher Jones, aged 17 or 18 at the time, and recounted how the couple tried various methods of grounding her, including bolts and locks on doors and windows, as advised by social services.

Despite this she still got out, the court heard.

The relationship ended after about six months but the pair remained close and she would often stay at his house.

During last year's summer holidays, shortly before Jenna disappeared, Desiree said her daughter's character improved, citing school as the only problem. But Desiree said Jenna was not a truant.

She said her daughter would regularly attend school but would not be punctual. The court heard police and social services were contacted on occasions when Jenna would not come home.

Desiree said Jenna would always told her if she was staying with friends.