UK Joesph Bellamy, 18, last seen in Caldicot,Wales on bike

[Luwin]

We’re appealing for information to find Joseph Bellamy, 18, who is missing.

ℹ Joseph was last seen leaving his home address in Caldicot between midnight and 1am on Tuesday 3 December.

He was later captured on CCTV cycling on a red pushbike towards the M48 bridge.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call us on 101 or send us a direct message on social media, quoting log reference 2400400170.

We’re also asking any motorists who were in the area, or travelling across the bridge, between 12.30am and 1.30am to check their dashcam footage.

https://www.gwent.police.uk/news/gwent/news/news/2024/december/appeal-to-find-missing-caldicot-teen/

 

[Luwin]

Police appeal to find teenager last seen riding towards Severn Bridge

Joseph Bellamy, 18, was last seen leaving his home in Caldicot, Gwent, between midnight and 1am on Tuesday, riding a pushbike in the direction of the M48 bridge.

www.dailymail.co.uk

At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing light jeans, black high-top Nike trainers, a black teddy fleece jumper and a black sweatshirt.

Now, his worried family have desperately appealed for help to trace Joseph as mystery grew over his disappearance.

His mother Natasha Lee Bellamy said: 'Joseph my love. Please, please come home. We all need you here with us. Everything can be fixed, and made better. Whatever it is.

'Please, please come home to us. We all love you so much. You are wanted by all of your family. Me & you can work things out step by step, side by side. Always here for you, forever Mum.'

 

[Luwin]

The M48 bridge spotting is not good news - hopefully he was just passing through that direction and is taking time out somewhere

 

[Lucy6226]

The M48 bridge spotting is not good news - hopefully he was just passing through that direction and is taking time out somewhere

Had the same thoughts

 

[Tortoise]

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "Coastguard assisted in response to a reported incident by the Severn Bridge, after being alerted at about 4.40am on 3 December.

"Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent, as well as an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter, an RNLI lifeboat, and Severn Area Rescue Association.

"Gwent Police also attended."

Gwent Police confirmed their attendance and said enquiries remain ongoing to locate Joseph Bellamy, as he is still missing.

Coastguard helicopter, boat and police officers search the channel for missing teen

COASTGUARD Rescue teams have been working alongside Gwent Police to search the channel and coastline beneath the Severn Bridge for a missing…

www.southwalesargus.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

Gwent Police said Mr Bellamy left his home between 12am and 1am on Tuesday 3 December.

CCTV footage showed him riding a red bike on to the bridge, which was later found by police.

Officers hope dashcam footage in the M48 bridge area will help piece together Mr Bellamy's movements that morning.

Dashcam footage appeal for missing teenager Joseph Bellamy

Gwent Police is asking anyone who was travelling along the M48 bridge in the early hours of Tuesday 3 December to get in touch.

news.sky.com

I wonder if the photos in the article were taken on the day he went missing, since he seems to be wearing the clothes described.

 

[Luwin]

It's not clear to me whether the bike was found on the bridge?

 

[Normal Norm]

It's not clear to me whether the bike was found on the bridge?

It took an awfully long time for the police to mention the discovery of Joseph's bike, although I am sure it would have been located very early on in the investigation. However, the latest update from Gwent Police confirms that "he was later captured on CCTV on a red pushbike cycling on to the M48 bridge where his bike was later found by officers". Although pedal cycles are banned on UK motorways, the M48 bridge has a dedicated cycle / footpath. There are very few other examples of this that I know of.

Gwent Police Facebook page

 

[Kittypoo]

It took an awfully long time for the police to mention the discovery of Joseph's bike, although I am sure it would have been located very early on in the investigation. However, the latest update from Gwent Police confirms that "he was later captured on CCTV on a red pushbike cycling on to the M48 bridge where his bike was later found by officers". Although pedal cycles are banned on UK motorways, the M48 bridge has a dedicated cycle / footpath. There are very few other examples of this that I know of.

Gwent Police Facebook page

I suppose if his bike was found near the Severn Bridge he could have been picked up in a car. The other option doesn’t bear thinking about in December.
Feels strange dash cam footage being requested 9 days on from his disappearance. JMO

 

[Normal Norm]

It's not clear to me whether the bike was found on the bridge?

Having read the Gwent Police statement again, I feel that the police mean that the bike was found ON the bridge, rather than on the lead-up to the bridge, although the wording is a bit vague. The bridge actually crosses two rivers - the Wye and the Severn - and the peninsular between them. It does not appear to be well endowed with CCTV cameras. They haven't mentioned whether his bike was found on the eastbound or the westbound side.

 

[Luwin]

If it was found on the bridge then I fear the worst.
It seems crazy to me that this bridge is not more well covered by cctv as it is unfortunately a common area for people to jump from

 

[Tortoise]

It took an awfully long time for the police to mention the discovery of Joseph's bike, although I am sure it would have been located very early on in the investigation. However, the latest update from Gwent Police confirms that "he was later captured on CCTV on a red pushbike cycling on to the M48 bridge where his bike was later found by officers". Although pedal cycles are banned on UK motorways, the M48 bridge has a dedicated cycle / footpath. There are very few other examples of this that I know of.

Gwent Police Facebook page

I'm not even sure which bridge they are referring to when they say the M48 bridge. Maybe it's obvious to locals.

On Google maps I can see two roads which cross the M48 by bridge, Dewstow Road and Church Road. Neither have a cycle lane. If they were referring to the Severn Bridge surely they would not have called it the M48 bridge. I doubt he would have fallen from a bridge over the motorway and not been found immediately.

The police appeal for information seems lacking in helpful detail to me.

https://www.gwent.police.uk/news/gwent/news/news/2024/december/appeal-to-find-missing-caldicot-teen/

 

[Normal Norm]

I'm not even sure which bridge they are referring to when they say the M48 bridge. Maybe it's obvious to locals.

On Google maps I can see two roads which cross the M48 by bridge, Dewstow Road and Church Road. Neither have a cycle lane. If they were referring to the Severn Bridge surely they would not have called it the M48 bridge. I doubt he would have fallen from a bridge over the motorway and not been found immediately.

The police appeal for information seems lacking in helpful detail to me.

https://www.gwent.police.uk/news/gwent/news/news/2024/december/appeal-to-find-missing-caldicot-teen/

They are not referring to a bridge which CROSSES the M48. Rather, they are referring to a bridge which CARRIES the M48, specifically the part which crosses the River Severn (it also crosses River Wye). I think they have called it the "M48 bridge" so as to distinguish it from the other, newer, bridge, three and a half miles downstream, which carries the M4 motorway over the Severn.

It is all bit confusing. Although the original (M48) bridge is still officially known as the "Severn Bridge", most people probably refer to the newer bridge as the Severn Bridge, as IT is the default route from England to South Wales along the M4.

As it happens, I also thought the same as you initially (i.e. that they were referring to the Dewstow Road and Church Road bridges over the motorway).

 

[Tortoise]

They are not referring to a bridge which CROSSES the M48. Rather, they are referring to a bridge which CARRIES the M48, specifically the part which crosses the River Severn (it also crosses River Wye). I think they have called it the "M48 bridge" so as to distinguish it from the other, newer, bridge, three and a half miles downstream, which carries the M4 motorway over the Severn.

It is all bit confusing. Although the original (M48) bridge is still officially known as the "Severn Bridge", most people probably refer to the newer bridge as the Severn Bridge, as IT is the default route from England to South Wales along the M4.

As it happens, I also thought the same as you initially (i.e. that they were referring to the Dewstow Road and Church Road bridges over the motorway).

Thank you for clearing that up. There is at least one CCTV camera I can see on the bridge. Perhaps it doesn't capture vehicle registrations for police to be able to make further enquiries about dashcam footage.

 

[Kittypoo]

Still no news? Couldn’t see anything

 

[imstilla.grandma]

He was later seen on CCTV riding a red pushbike towards the M48 bridge. Joseph is described as being white, 6ft tall with mousey hair and blue eyes. In a moving post on Facebook, his mum Natasha said the family "just want him home".

She wrote: "It is now six weeks since our beautiful son went missing. He is in our every waking thought. Things are no easier. We just want him home

'It is now six weeks since our beautiful son went missing. We just want him home'

Joseph Bellamy has not been seen since he left his home address in Caldicot on December 3

uk.news.yahoo.com

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

In December, Gwent police urged motorists to check dashcam footage for a missing 18-year-old who was last seen near the Severn Bridge.

Joseph Bellamy, 18, was last seen leaving his home address in Caldicot between midnight and 1am on Tuesday 3 December.

He was later captured on CCTV cycling on a red pushbike towards the M48 bridge.

[...]

Officers investigating are trying to establish Joseph’s movements after he was captured on CCTV at 00:45/12.45am and are urging for any motorists who used the M48 bridge that morning to check their dashcam footage.

If you were using the bridge or in the surrounding area, and haven’t done so, please check CCTV or dashcam footage between 12.30am and 2am on Tuesday 3 December for any sightings of Joseph.

[...]

Teen last seen near M48 Bridge still missing weeks after disappearance

Joseph Bellamy a missing teen from Caldicot was last seen near the M48 Bridge.

www.southwalesargus.co.uk

 

[StillDiggin]

M4 and M48 closed after body found in carriageway Quite near where Joseph’s bind was found

M4 and M48 reopens after body found on carriageway

Police say the body, believed to be a man in his 40s, has been identified and next of kin informed.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cakegremlin35]

M4 and M48 closed after body found in carriageway Quite near where Joseph’s bind was found

M4 and M48 reopens after body found on carriageway

Police say the body, believed to be a man in his 40s, has been identified and next of kin informed.

www.bbc.com

Sadly Joseph is missing.

This was a suicide

Bristol M4 death investigated after 'predator' sting - BBC News

Police arrested the man after accusations against him were live streamed on social media.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Normal Norm]

There is sad news coming through about Joseph. Gwent Police have issued the following statement:

The body of a teenage boy was found near the village of Northington, Gloucestershire on Sunday 9 March.

Formal identification has taken place, and he was identified as Joseph Bellamy, 18, who was reported missing in December 2024.

His family have been informed, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

The family of Joseph Bellamy has requested privacy and space during this difficult time.

Gwent Police Facebook page