Specialist search and rescue teams from Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team descended on Billingham Beck Country Park this afternoon (Monday 12th of February) searching for missing teenager Lewis Penfold-Roche.
Lewis, 18, has been missing since Sunday 28th The CCTV 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.
On Monday 12th of February search teams from Cleveland Mountain Rescue searched the Billingham Beck Country Park in relation to Lewis at the request of Cleveland Police. Police and family members are growing increasingly concerned about the welfare of Lewis. A spokesperson for Cleveland Police confirmed: “[the search by Cleveland Mountain Rescue] was linked to the Lewis Penfold-Roche search. Lewis is still missing and investigations are ongoing.”
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Chris Pringle, said: “I would like to appeal directly to Lewis to ask him to make contact with someone and let them know he is safe; whether that is by contacting police, a friend or family. You are not in any trouble – we just want to know that you are safe and well.
Officers from Cleveland Police continue to piece together Lewis’ movements including speaking with his associates, scouring hours of CCTV footage and issuing public appeals for information.
DI Pringle continued: “We would continue to urge the public to let us know if they have any information as to Lewis’ whereabouts or if anyone thinks they may have seen him since he went missing, please let us know as soon as possible. We just want to ensure that Lewis is safe and well.”
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.
Do you know? or have seen something?… you can also tell Cleveland Police information online here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/17HQ020124Q94-PO1
Any CCTV, dash cam or ring doorbell footage of Lewis can be uploaded here: https://unitedkingdom1cpp-portal.digital-policing.co.uk/cleveland/appeal/missing-person-lewis-penfold?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo
The team at TeesPix are monitoring this and will bring you more information as it becomes available.