missing person

COPS have launched an urgent hunt for a 49-year-old woman who went missing from a popular seaside town.

Claire Bennett was last heard from at around 1.30pm on Monday after vanishing in Cornwall.

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Claire, who is from St Austell, is believed to be in the Truro area according to cops.

She is described as a white female, around 5ft 10ins and of slim build, police said.

Claire is also said to have blonde hair which is usually worn down.

Cops confirmed she was last seen wearing a white top and blue shorts.

Searches and enquiries are ongoing, but the force are appealing for anyone who has seen Claire or knows where she is to get in touch.

Anyone who sees Claire or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact police on 999 quoting log 610 of 11 August.

Issuing a plea to her mum, Claire’s daughter told PlymouthLive: “Mum, if you read this please come home. We aren’t mad at you and we all bloody love you!

“You win at hide and seek. Just even send me a message to tell me you’re ok.

“We can get through this. I promise. I love you.”

Claire’s daughter said her mum was “classed as a high-risk missing person”, according to the outlet.

Her daughter also claimed that items belonging to Claire had been found, reports the outlet.

She said: “We found a bag we believe to be hers at the park by the viaduct In Truro.

“We were asked not to continue looking on foot for her due to the police dogs and scents etc.”

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POLICE have issued CCTV footage in the hopes of finding a woman who went missing three months ago.

Portia Vincent-Kirby, 33, disappeared on February 21 at around 8.45pm after seeing friends in Hyde Park, London.

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Portia was reported missing on March 13, prompting police to begin trawling CCTV footage in a bid to trace her

The last confirmed sighting of her was at the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel on Friday March 14.

Portia, who is single and lives alone in a flat in North Finchley, is described as slim with blue eyes and shoulder-length dyed blonde hair, but often wears a baseball cap.

The sociable, outgoing young woman ran as the Green Party candidate for Hendon, North London, in 2019 – with her brother saying “she’s not the kind of person who just vanishes“.

Her family are urging her to contact them, after it was revealed by police her phone and bank cards have not been used in weeks.

Her mum, Janina said: “We are all very worried as Portia is very vulnerable.

“Portia has not been in contact with or seen by any family or friends since February.

“We appeal to the public for anyone to please come forward if they know anything about her or her whereabouts.

“We also appeal to Portia directly, please get in touch with any of your family or friends.”

PC Harjinder Kang, from the Met’s north west missing persons unit, added: “We are growing increasingly concerned for Portia’s safety, as this behaviour is out of character for her.

“We urge anyone who may have seen her to contact police.

“Officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to trace her and we are now turning to the public for help.

“Please get in touch if you can help us locate Portia.”

Speaking previously, her brother Max, 31, said: “She’s got a master’s degree, she’s an intelligent girl, she’s not the kind of person who just vanishes.

“It’s like she’s dropped off the face of the earth.

He added: “She is very much her own person, but she has lots of friends.

“We reported her missing on March 13 after we realised none of her friends had seen her in weeks.

“The police were then able to look at her bank cards and phone, they can check when it was last used unlike using the ticks on Whatsapp to see if messages were delivered.

“They found out that they hadn’t been used for nearly three weeks, since the start of March.

“Who doesn’t need money for nearly three weeks? Even if you’d met someone you’d go out and get coffee or something, it just doesn’t make sense.”

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Portia also has strong links to Medway, where she is from.

Police would urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting 01/7262039/25.

A BODY has been discovered amid a major hunt for a schoolgirl who fell into the water whilst out on a walk with her dad.

Emergency crews had been frantically searching for the 13-year-old who vanished under the water at Baitings Dam yesterday afternoon.

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A cordon was put in place at the reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, after cops were called at around 1.20pm on Wednesday.

Search teams worked around the clock in an attempt to find the youngster, with two RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) spotted at the site this morning.

The teenager, from Halifax, had been posing for pictures with her dad when she tragically fell into the 140ft-deep water.

It is understood she hit the water after falling roughly 30ft from the parapet of the dam.

Local resident Sue Ferris helped comfort the girl’s family, who told her that the youngster had a “bright future“.

The 80-year-old said: “She had just got into grammar school, they told me.

“She wanted to walk round the reservoir with her dad because it was half term, but the rest of the family didn’t want to go.

“It was just dad and daughter at the reservoir when she fell in. The rest of the family came after the accident.

“Dad had been taking photographs, according to a witness, and he also heard dad screaming and shouting her name after she fell in – but he did not go into the water.

“He had some kind of heart problem and was clutching his chest soon afterwards and was taken away by ambulance.

“They were very proud of her. She had a really bright future.”

Mrs Ferris, who has lived in the same house overlooking the reservoir for 20 years, slammed officials for a buoyancy aids around the water.

She added: “It is disgraceful that there are no life rings anywhere on the parapet.

“Yorkshire Water added the white metal railings on top of the stone structure some years ago now.

“But it only adds about half a foot to the barrier height and actually helps people to climb onto the wall.

“It gives them something to grip on to.

“All it is doing is helping people to stand on the wall.”

Four West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue crews were sent out to the dam on Wednesday, assisted by Littleborough crew.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service also confirmed they sent officers from their Hazardous Area Response Team.

Speaking on Wednesday, a West Yorkshire police spokesperson said: “Shortly after 1.17pm this afternoon police were called to a report a girl had fallen into water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden.

“Emergency services are currently on the scene, with searches ongoing to locate the girl.”

A DESPERATE hunt has been launched to find a missing Brit who suddenly disappeared in Peru just days after Hannah Almond was found in the country.

Jamie Cooke, 39, was last seen in the city of Miraflores on Monday.

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His family has now launched a desperate appeal to find the missing Brit in the South American country.

It comes as Brit backpacker Hannah Almond, who also disappeared in Peru, was found sleeping rough on the streets.

Sister Jade McKay said she flew out to Peru with her partner in a bid to find her missing brother.

In a public posting urging people to help find Jamie, she wrote: “My brother, Jamie Cooke, 39 years old, is missing in Peru.

“I have travelled from the UK to search for him and am currently in Miraflores with my partner.

“We are very worried and would appreciate any information from UK citizens travelling in the area.

“Please share and contact us if you have any news.”

Ms McKay shared two pictures of Jamie as part of her appeal to find him.

And anyone with information about the Brit’s disappearance has been urged to come forward as soon as possible.

An FCDO spokesperson told The Sun: “We are supporting the family of a British man reported as missing in Peru and are in contact with his local authorities.”

The Sun has reached out to Jamie’s family for further details.

It comes as Brit woman Hannah Almond continues to live on the streets after she became too terrified to trust anyone.

Ms Almond, 32, disappeared after a violent robbery left her without a passport, phone, or money – and sparked a terrifying mental health spiral.

The yoga-loving fashion graduate from Grimsby had travelled to Cusco in March for a spiritual retreat to “find herself”, but ended up living under a bridge with an elderly homeless man.

Locals torched her few remaining belongings in a sickening attack.

After three days without contact, friends feared the worst.

But a man she met briefly in Lima caught a flight to Cusco and “just started wandering the streets asking after her” until he found her slumped on the pavement.

Despite being located, Ms Almond is still sleeping rough and refusing support – including food, shelter, and help from the British embassy – due to trauma from the robbery that’s left her terrified of strangers.

One of her pals has now flown from the UK in a desperate bid to persuade her to return home before she disappears again.

Piero Villanueva, the man who found the Brit,  revealed their emotional reunion and said she immediately recognised him and began crying.

He told local media: “I have just found her. She is safe and well.

“Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she’s safe.”

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Piero, who met Hannah briefly in Lima earlier in her trip, travelled to Cusco after seeing news of her disappearance on social media.

“I decided to travel to Cusco at the request of her friends and family,” he said.

“I wanted to come and help find her and assist her because she didn’t have money or her passport and other documents because she had been robbed.”

He confirmed he is in touch with Hannah’s family, the British Consul, and a friend flying in from the UK.

“A friend of Hannah is arriving in Cusco today and I’m talking with him to be able to assist her,” he said.

“We have to see now what’s going to happen, talk with Hannah’s mum and see what she wants to do,” he added.

“Hannah and her mum haven’t spoken yet. I’m talking with her mum but she’s an elderly lady and we don’t want to worry her anymore.”

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A BRITISH backpacker has gone missing after spending a month living on the streets of Peru following a violent robbery.

Hannah Almond, 32, travelled to Cusco in March for a yoga retreat to “find herself” – but was left stranded, penniless and traumatised after being assaulted and robbed of her passport.

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With no way to get home, the fashion graduate was sleeping rough under the Belén Bridge, where her remaining belongings were torched by local thugs.

Footage from local media appeared to show her clothes and personal items in a flaming pile on the street.

Hannah was last seen three days ago after befriending an elderly homeless man at a makeshift camp, and has not been heard from since.

A desperate search is now underway to locate the missing Brit from Grimsby.

A family friend told the Daily Mail on Monday: “She is one of the most pure loving souls ever — she is very generous and always wants to help people.

“But she does not trust anyone after getting robbed and assaulted.

“Some locals burned all her belongings from under the bridge.”

They added: “She was contacting her mum every now and then through other people’s phones.

“Police went to check on her two days ago and she has not been seen since. Cusco is a trafficking hotspot, so it’s very worrying.”

The British Consulate in Peru has confirmed that Hannah’s tourist visa has expired and her immigration status is now in limbo.

“She is in an illegal situation. Her tourist visa has already expired,” British Consul Mark Atkinson told local media.

“Sometimes we’ve paid for hotel stays, given her money for food, that sort of thing. But she always ends up coming back here,” he explained, referring to the bridge camp.

Hannah’s friends have since launched a GoFundMe page to fund urgent efforts to help her.

As of Tuesday, it already pulled in £7,930 from 306 donations — just shy of its £9,000 goal.

The funds raised will be used to cover urgent travel and support costs, including a flight and accommodation for a close family member or friend to fly to Peru and gently persuade Hannah to come home.

Her loved ones hope that a familiar face on the ground will help break through the fear and confusion that has kept her from accepting official help.

The money will also go towards providing Hannah with safe accommodation, food, and access to emergency medical or psychological care — which may be vital before she is well enough to travel.

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Additional funds will cover logistical costs needed to get her home, such as securing a replacement passport, renewing her visa, and arranging her journey back to the UK.

A message on the fundraiser reads: “Hannah travelled to Peru in March hoping for an adventure, but instead, she has found herself in a terrifying and heartbreaking situation.

“She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone, and all of her money.

“Since then, Hannah’s mental health has severely declined.”

“Despite attempts to help her through official channels, Hannah is deeply fearful and unable to accept support from the embassy or local authorities.

“She is extremely vulnerable, isolated, and not safe living on the streets of Peru.

“Hannah is a deeply kind and gentle soul, and we are desperate to get her the care and safety she deserves. We need to bring her home.”

More than 100,000 Brits travel to Peru every year, with Cusco – the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail – one of the most popular spots.

FCDO travel advice warns tourists to remain alert, saying: “Personal attacks, including sexual assaults, are infrequent but do happen, mostly in the Cusco and Arequipa areas.”

A FORMER Met detective who investigated Jay Slater’s disappearance has said his drug dealer “pal” has to come forward and answer key questions from the inquest.

Mark Williams-Thomas – who worked on the Madeleine McCann case – conducted his “own investigation” after the 19-year-old went missing on the island of Tenerife in June last year.

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The inquest into Jay’s death was suddenly adjourned yesterday after his grieving mum Debbie pleased the coroner to summon crucial witnesses – including convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim.

Detective turned TV-sleuth Mr Williams-Thomas said he had been in close contact during the investigation with a number of witnesses – including Jay’s family and friends.

Now he has urged Qassim to come forward and answer questions from the “disappointing” inquest.

Qassim took the 19-year-old Brit back to an Airbnb in Masca the night before he went missing on June 17.

Mr Williams-Thomas called Qassim “the most important witness” who he says gave him “crucial evidence” that “hasn’t been made public” yet.

The ex-detective added that the evidence he received from Qassim in his own investigation provides “greater context” as to why Jay left the villa.

Qassim was previously jailed for nine years in 2015 as the ringleader of a London-based gang dealing heroin and crack cocaine in Cardiff.

He and another Brit previously known only as “Rocky” had rented the Airbnb in the remote Tenerife mountains that they took Jay back to after the festival.

Jay posted a final Snapchat picture of himself smoking on the doorstep of the apartment at 7.30am on June 17 before leaving shortly after.

Qassim has always denied any involvement in Jay’s death.

Jay’s disappearance sparked widespread media interest – as well as a slew of social media conspiracy theories.

One of those theories claimed Jay had stolen a £12,000 watch – which his mum Debbie dismissed as vile rumours.

Josh Forshaw, who met Jay as they boarded a plane from Manchester to Tenerife, said he received a message from the teen before he disappeared.

It read: “Ended up getting thrown out with two Mali kids, just took an AP [luxury watch strap] off somebody and was on the way to sell it.”

Josh told the hearing via video link that Jay said he was planning to sell the strap for “10 quid”, slang for £10,000.

Josh told the hearing he received a Snapchat from Jay later in the night that claimed he “ended up getting thrown out” of the venue with two other people.

He also claimed Jay sent him a photo showing “knives down his trousers” that was captioned “in case it kicks off”.

Josh said he didn’t mention the image to Spanish police before leaving Tenerife, but did inform cops in Lancashire on his return.

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Speaking of Josh’s claim of receiving the knives image, Mr Williams-Thomas says he was told that they weren’t found with him and were left in the apartment.

Apprentice bricklayer Jay travelled to the Spanish island in June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with two friends, Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves.

The teen travelled to an Airbnb apartment in Masca with two men including Qassim in the early hours of June 17, before leaving at around 8am.

Jay, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, made a heartbreaking final call to his friend Law saying he had cut his leg, was lost, dehydrated and had just one per cent battery on his phone after he left the Airbnb.

On Wednesday night, Law’s family revealed she was simply on holiday on the very same island where Jay died.

They claimed she was also unaware that she had been called to give evidence at the inquest.

Speaking at the family home in Burnley, Lucy’s stepfather Andy Davis said: “We had no idea Jay’s inquest was even being held today.

“The police have only just been round today to say that she was due to give evidence. But it’s the first time we knew of it.”

He added: “They asked if Lucy was home and I said she was abroad and they asked me if I was aware that she should have been in court, and I said I wasn’t.”

“The police said they had sent Lucy paperwork with the dates on it, but the first I knew about it was when the police turned up earlier today.”

Sources in the Slater family later said they were aware where the other missing witnesses were, and had also been able to find them easily, according to the MailOnline.

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The family source said: “Lucy is in Tenerife. Another supposedly untraceable witness is on holiday in Greece.

“If we can find this out so quickly why can’t the police?”

The court also heard a suggestion that witnesses may be reluctant to appear because drugs may have been involved.

After Jay’s body was found, officials said there were traces of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine in his body.

Dr Adeley said: “When drugs are involved in a death, the witnesses are less than forthcoming and do not wish to speak to the authorities.”

Jay‘s disappearance and death remain largely cloaked in mystery and it is hoped that glaring gaps in his final movements will be filled after the inquest.

The inquest heard from three construction workers who said, via video link, they saw Jay on the main road through the remote village of Masca and he asked them about bus times.

He was attempting the treacherous 10-hour walk back to his apartment in Los Cristianos when he called Lucy to say he was lost.

DCI Rachel Higson, head of digital media investigations at Lancashire Police, told the hearing today that Jay’s phone recorded “a lot of steps and inclines” between 7.59am and 8.49am.

His mobile last pinged in the mountainous Rural de Teno Park after Jay walked the wrong way from the Airbnb, and DCI Higson said there was “no data recorded” after 8.49:51am.

After a month-long search, Jay’s body was found in a ravine on July 15 last year – near to where his phone last pinged.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.

Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd today told the inquest Jay suffered a “heavy fall from height” and the “devastating” effects would have been “immediate”.

Why the inquest farce is more pain for Jay’s family

By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)

AS I stood in the sweltering, remote mountains of Masca I was told the news Jay Slater’s loved ones dreaded – his body had been found.

But for his devastated family, it didn’t bring the closure they so desperately needed.

Now almost a year on, his grief-stricken mum, dad and brother have been subjected to yet more torment as an inquest into his death dredged up painful details of his disappearance – while lacking any actual answers.

Jay’s courageous mum Debbie Duncan opened up to me just weeks after his body was found about how she was tortured by not knowing what happened to her beloved son before he fell to his death.

I was humbled by the bravery she showed in the face of living every parent’s worst nightmare on the world stage – relentlessly hounded by mindless trolls.

Spineless witnesses failing to turn up to the hearing to provide crucial information is a kick in the teeth for Debbie and his already suffering family.

The 19-year-old went missing 11 months ago, and his body tragically discovered 29 days later.

So why after all these months has the court failed to bring together vital witnesses – including the two friends he was on holiday with?

After months and months of battling through their grief, the last thing Jay’s family needed was to face a farce of a hearing without the necessary witnesses.

Read more here…

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COPS are desperately searching for a man and his two children – last seen speeding through a major seaside town.

Authorities are concerned over the welfare of the passengers and have sent out a police helicopter to help them in their search.

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POLICE have launched a desperate appeal for information after a 17-year-old girl vanished with her baby girl.

Skye Conway was last seen with the infant near Strood town centre at around 7.30pm on Tuesday 14 May 2025.

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