Three children found dead in car after father’s fatal plunge

TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to three children found dead along with their father at a beauty spot in Shropshire.

Sam Fuller, 12, and his sisters Becka, eight, and Charlotte, seven, were described as “absolutely delightful children” by teachers.

Last night, police put the deaths down to a “tragic family situation” and although a murder investigation has been launched they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy.

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The bodies were discovered by officers in an isolated area of woodland near Pontesbury, Shropshire, shortly before 10am. Their father, Ceri Fuller, 35, believed to be a former Huddersfield University student, was also found dead close by.

It was reported that the children had suffered knife wounds while Mr Fuller had fallen from a cliff at a nearby quarry.

Mr Fuller and his three children had left their home at Milkwall, in Gloucestershire, last Thursday.

Police later appealed for sightings of the four family members and said they were believed to have been travelling in an 11-year-old red Land Rover Freelander.

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Becka and Charlotte were pupils at St John’s Church of England Primary School in Coleford, which older brother Sam had also attended before moving to secondary school.

Headteacher Jan Wagstaff said: “Rebecca and Charlotte were absolutely delightful children and a pleasure to have in school.

“Sam was also a pupil here before he moved on to Lakers.

“He was a lot of fun and always had a ready smile. They will all be very sadly missed.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their family.”

Alison Elliott, the head teacher of Lakers School in Coleford, added: “We are desperately sad to hear the family are having to face such a dreadful situation.

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“Sam was a well loved member of our extended family here at Lakers.

“Our thoughts are with the family at this very tragic time.”

Mr Fuller married his wife, Ruth,in August 2009 and neighbours in the village where they lived said the family “kept themselves to themselves”.

Rachel Annis, whose daughter went to the same school as Charlotte, said: “Charlotte was in my daughter’s class at St John’s. She was just a beautiful little girl. (They were) such characters.

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“Sam would often come round and play with my son and so would Charlotte – she just had an angelic face, such a little angel.”

Mr Fuller worked as a production supervisor at a paper mill, having joined in 2002.

According to his profile on the LinkedIn website, he completed a BSc in molecular and cellular biology at Huddersfield University, graduating in 2001.

After the bodies were discovered, the area was sealed off and forensic officers are carrying out a detailed examination of the tragic scene.

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Speaking at a Press conference last night, Detective Chief Insp Neil Jamieson, of West Mercia Police, said the registration number of the red Land Rover Freelander was CK51 YUV.

Police believe the vehicle left Gloucestershire last Wednesday night or early Thursday.

The vehicle is thought to have been seen in the Leominster area at midday on Thursday before being driven up to the Welshpool district later that afternoon.

Detectives are urging anyone who had seen the car or its occupants to call West Mercia Police on 101.

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