Found Deceased Lewis Penfold-Roche, 18, Last heard from 5pm in the Billingham area, Cleveland, 26 Jan 2024

[StillDiggin]

Officers are re-appealing as they become increasingly concerned for the welfare of missing 18-year-old Lewis Penfold-Roche.

Lewis was last seen around 5pm on Sunday 28th January in the Billingham area.

Police are becoming increasingly concerned as time goes on, as it is out of character for Lewis to go missing and not be in contact with his family for this length of time.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Hodgson said: “As we are now five days on from when Lewis was last seen, we are increasingly concerned for his welfare. He has not been in contact with his family and they are also really concerned about him.

“I would appeal to Lewis himself to get in touch with family or with police, and also urge anyone who may have seen him to call 101.”

When he was last seen, Lewis was wearing a red coat and carrying a white and green backpack. He may be wearing a black jumper with the Jack Skellington character on the front, or a black Adidas jumper with white stripes down the sleeves.

Lewis speaks with a London accent and officers would appeal to anyone who may have seen Lewis, or anyone who knows his whereabouts, to contact Cleveland Police as a matter of urgency on 101, quoting reference number 017293.

https://www.facebook.com/100064960561081/posts/pfbid06JWX8jmGp1n2yuSvr7U1EyckUNXbx5cnyfR7iAxNgw5rEp86VdZ94Z4qiizWBDF3l

 

[StillDiggin]

Police are releasing CCTV images of missing 18-year-old Lewis Penfold-Roche, a week on from his last sighting.

Officers are extremely concerned for the welfare of Lewis, who has now not been seen since Sunday 28th January in Billingham.

Lewis has not been in touch with his family, which is out of character.

Extensive CCTV enquiries are being conducted and images released today show the last known images of Lewis, as he made his way along Station Road, Billingham, towards Central Avenue at 5:55pm on Sunday 28th January.

Officers are appealing to members of the public to check their home CCTV or dashcam footage around the area for any further sightings of Lewis, and would also appeal to anyone who may have seen him to get in touch.

When he was last seen, Lewis was wearing a red coat and carrying a white and green backpack. He may be wearing a black jumper with the Jack Skellington character on the front, or a black Adidas jumper with white stripes down the sleeves.

Lewis speaks with a London accent and officers would appeal to anyone who may have seen Lewis, or anyone who knows his whereabouts, to contact Cleveland Police as a matter of urgency on 101, quoting reference number 017293.

https://www.facebook.com/100064960561081/posts/pfbid0o85LxNfQwATPEznJPeBHhZ53DJE2wCDLadrShKJGH4u7sVW6msPAyPNFnX53tpoUl

Footage can be uploaded here: Missing Person Lewis PENFOLD | Cleveland Investigate | Community Portal

 

[StillDiggin]

On this CCTV Lewis appears aware possibly of the white car outside, he looks nervous.
CCTV is being released of missing Lewis Penfold-Roche on the day that he went missing.

Lewis, 18, was last seen on Sunday 28th January in Billingham.

The footage shows Lewis in the ESSO garage on Station Road around 8:15am on Sunday 28th January. He was last seen later that day around 6pm on Station Road heading towards Central Avenue.

Officers continue to appeal to members of the public to check their home CCTV or dashcam footage around the area for any further sightings of Lewis, and would also appeal to anyone who may have seen him to get in touch.

When he was last seen, Lewis was wearing a red coat and carrying a white and green backpack. He may be wearing a black jumper with the Jack Skellington character on the front, or a black Adidas jumper with white stripes down the sleeves.

️ Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Chris Pringle, said: “As we continue to appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of Lewis, we hope this CCTV may jog someone’s memory that they may have seen him or know of his whereabouts.

“We remain very concerned for Lewis as he has now not been seen for over a week and still has not been in touch with his family. They are also concerned for his welfare and we would urge Lewis to get in touch with police to let us know he is safe, or contact family members who are very worried.”

Lewis speaks with a London accent and officers would appeal to anyone who may have seen Lewis, or anyone who knows his whereabouts, to contact Cleveland Police as a matter of urgency on 101, quoting reference number 017293.

Footage can be uploaded here: Missing Person Lewis PENFOLD | Cleveland Investigate | Community Portal

You can also tell us information online here: Public Portal (Public Portal)

https://fb.watch/q2dYQb5vj4/

 

[Normal Norm]

On this CCTV Lewis appears aware possibly of the white car outside, he looks nervous.

Edited by me for brevity.

Petrol filling-stations are particularly well-covered by CCTV cameras, i believe, as a precaution against people filling up and simply driving off. You would have hoped the police would have investigated the white car (unless it was fitted with cloned number-plates, of course). Lewis certainly looks very nervous. Did he actually buy anything while he was there? Did he have the means to pay for whatever he was looking at on the shelf (if you catch my drift)? It is intriguing footage, which throws up more questions than answers for me.

 

[Sparkles631]

I grew up on the road that this young man went missing and I’m completely shocked that someone can just vanish from a place that’s fairly busy all of the time.

 

[LemonMint]

Bumping for Lewis.

 

[Sparkles631]

Looks like police have been searching the beck/ecology park today. I just wish they’d done all of this earlier.

 

[Normal Norm]

Searches are being carried out today [Wednesday 14 Feb 2024] as police continue to appeal for information to help locate missing 18-year-old Lewis Penfold-Roche.

Lewis was last seen around 6pm on Sunday 28th January, on Station Road in Billingham, heading towards Central Avenue.

Today, Wednesday 14th February, searches are being carried out by specialist police search teams in wooded areas near to Billingham Beck Valley Country Park towards Billingham Golf Club, which is close to where Lewis was last seen. Whilst parts of this area have already been searched previously, officers are today widening the parameters of the ground search.

Police would urge informal search parties not to search this area as there are hazardous conditions due to the current weather.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Chris Pringle, said: “Today there are specially trained search teams from Cleveland Police who are searching wooded areas near to where Lewis was last seen.

“Whilst we still have no specific information to suggest that Lewis went into this area, we are today widening our search parameters from Billingham Beck Valley Country Park up towards Billingham Golf Club. These officers are looking for anything of significance which could lead us to help find Lewis.”

Cleveland Police Facebook page
Cleveland Police Facebook homepage

 

[Sparkles631]

The beck/ecology park was searched again yesterday, looks like they’re at the golf club today.
I didn’t actually realise how many open/woodland type spaces there are in Billingham until this. He really could be anywhere, but I hope he’s found soon.

 

[Normal Norm]

Cleveland Police have posted a video showing the area / terrain they are currently searching.

 

[StillDiggin]

Dozens of volunteers search for missing teenager Lewis Penfold-Roche

Dozens of people have joined a huge search effort to find 18-year-old Lewis Penfold-Roche, who went missing three weeks ago.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Coconutty]

It doesn’t sound as if they found anything on their searches today, it’s getting quite a lot more publicly now across social media which might help

 

[Detectivehorseshoe]

It's really quite touching how the town has come together to try and find Lewis. Isn't it bizarre though how people can just disappear? Nothing at all on any CCTV after his last sighting.

I think it's a good sign nothing noteworthy was found in the search. But then where is he? Is someone maybe helping him hide?
Hope the family get some answers very soon.

 

[Coconutty]

Still no news on Lewis, his mum is posting a lot on the Facebook group that’s been set up to raise awareness/find him but no sightings at all.

 

[Lucy6226]

Hope this lad is found safe soon

 

[Normal Norm]

The Find Lewis Penfold Roche Facebook group, which I think I can mention here, now contains a statement posted today which "gives more of a insight to Lewis's last day and helps with any confusion or questions on clothes, headphones etc." It is certainly useful, and clarifies a couple of things that I had wondered about previously, but sadly gives no real clue as to what might have happened to him.

Find Lewis Penfold Roche Facebook group

 

[Normal Norm]

It looks like the water-based searches carried out by the Beneath the Surface rescue organisation have drawn a blank. I don't know if there are other water bodies in the vicinity of Lewis's last sighting that remain to be searched.

Post on the Find Lewis Penfold-Roche official Facebook appeal group

 

[Normal Norm]

The Find Lewis Penfold-Roche appeal group has posted CCTV moving footage of the last sighting of Lewis.

Post on the Find Lewis Penfold-Roche official Facebook appeal group

 

[Coconutty]

A private company has conducted water searches but found no sign of Lewis. It seems as if there’s no new leads on this at all.

 

[Coconutty]

Still no sightings. Does anyone know the area? Is it feasible that he went to the coast?