POLICE have confirmed there has been another sighting of missing Evesham man Lee Horton – showing him in Gloucester around 3.33pm on the Tuesday he went missing (March 11).
It means the 36-year-old had left Bristol last Tuesday afternoon and travelled to Gloucester, signalling he could have been on his way back to Evesham.
Lee was reported missing on Wednesday 12 March after visiting Bristol. He told family on Tuesday 11 March that he would catch a train home but did not arrive and has not been in contact since.
He had tried to book into a hotel in the city on Tuesday morning but they would not accept cash.
Because financial and phone checks show no activity since midday on March 11, officers have been carrying out painstaking and time-consuming CCTV checks.
Tracking Lee on CCTV
Officers have viewed footage from almost 100 cameras to track Lee from Upper Maudlin Street back to Bristol Temple Meads station.
Detectives have now confirmed he paid cash for a ticket to Worcester and caught a train at around 2.40pm on Tuesday, March 11.
Officers travelled to Worcester Shrub Hill Station and established he did not leave the train there.
Since then detectives have been checking each station on the route and have found Lee on CCTV pictured leaving the train at Gloucester, and leaving Gloucester Station at 3.33pm on March 11.
The latest sighting is of him leaving ASDA Gloucester and walking towards Station Road at 3.46pm.
Extensive search
More than 34 officers have been involved in the search for Lee so far, with their enquiries including checking with hotels, bus companies and speaking with Lee’s family, friends and colleagues as well as liaising with British Transport Police and West Mercia Police.
Det Insp Tim Mullins said: “Throughout this investigation we have kept an open mind and followed up every potential sighting and piece of information.
“Carrying out CCTV enquiries is challenging work. In many cases only certain staff at premises with private CCTV can access the system, while others require a formal application to a head office, adding delays to the process.
“We can now be confident that Lee travelled out of Bristol by train as planned, but remain concerned for his welfare as he has yet to return home or contact his family.
“We will work with our colleagues in Gloucestershire Police to progress the enquiry.”
Description of Lee
Lee is 5ft 11ins tall and white with short dark brown hair and a beard and a distinguishing birth mark on his right arm. He was wearing a blue jacket, dark-coloured jeans and was carrying a large black rucksack with red tags on it.
Anyone who knows where Lee is should call 999 immediately or ring 101 with any other information. Avon and Somerset Police reference 5225073912.
