POLICE were “faultless” in their investigation into Sian’s disappearance and death, according to her mother.

The team of around 140 officers, led by Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher, drew strong praise from Elaine for the way they handled the case.

“The police have been brilliant – I cannot fault them,” she said.

“They have been sensitive and very honest.

People just know what they have read but the police have been very clever in what they have done.

“Right from the start the way they conducted investigation has been very good.

“How they handled the press conference was really comforting. They took us in to the room when it was empty and kept us informed all the way through.

“Steve Fulcher came out personally at around 3.20pm last Thursday – I remember it because Aiden was supposed to be coming home from school so we had to divert him away.

“He obviously cared. They kept using the words ‘we want to get Sian back to you’.

And that’s how I felt when he told us: ‘they’ve got her back’.”

The crowds outside the magistrates’ court on Monday chanted their praise of the police after the man accused of Sian’s murder had appeared in the dock, but Elaine said she did not like the ugly scenes she saw on television and newspaper reports.