Missing 14-year-old found safe and well

By MARK BULSTRODE

mark.bulstrode@eveningstar.co.uk

A RUNAWAY teenager was found safe and well in Norwich today – just hours after his mother made a tearful plea for him to return home.

David Beresford, 14, had been missing since 5.30pm on Sunday, March 23 and concern was growing for his safety.

His mother, Helen Mayhew, of Leiston, took the step of making an emotional appeal for him to return home at a media conference held at Ipswich police station at 10am today.

She was flanked by detective inspector Mike Bacon, who was leading a team of four officers investigating the case.

Just hours later, it was revealed David, who has learning difficulties, had been found by Suffolk police officers in Norwich.

A missing person's enquiry had been sparked after David went missing for nine days after leaving his father's house in Inverness Road, Ipswich.

The last contact with him was via a phone call from outside Norwich Railway Station at around 7.40pm on March 23.

Speaking at the press conference, Mrs Mayhew said: "The last few days have been hell. I just don't know what to do. I sit by the phone just hoping he is going to turn up.

"I don't know anybody in Norwich and I don't know what he is doing there. He's probably stuck up there because he wouldn't know how to get back. I just hope to God he's OK."

She said David had been "wandering" over the last few months but this had been the longest period he has been away. Although he has gone missing in the past, he has always turned up within a couple days.

David, who attends a residential school in Cumbria, is believed to have borrowed some money to get to Norwich.

Det Insp Bacon said he hoped the press conference would aid the search, although he admitted concern was growing as time moved on.

He said his officers would be following up reported sightings of David in Suffolk and Norfolk.