Missing Student 'Fell In River After Drinking'

CCTV shows Megan Roberts running down a street with a group and bumping into a cycle rack but she is missing from later footage. 5:54pm UK, Wednesday 29 January 2014

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Missing student probably fell in river during night out, police reveal

Megan Roberts, 20, who is missing after becoming separated from friends after a night out in York Photo: PA By Martin Evans, Crime Correspondent

2:42PM GMT 29 Jan 2014

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Megan Roberts, the university student who has been missing in York for almost a week, probably fell in the city’s River Ouse while drunk, police have said.

Detectives hunting for the missing 20-year-old said there was no evidence of foul play and all the indications were that she had met with a tragic accident.

Superintendent Phil Cain also stressed there was nothing to suggest that the York St John University student’s disappearance was in any way connected with the case of Claudia Lawrence – the university chef who went missing in York in 2009 and who police believe has been murdered.

Speaking close to the Lendal Bridge, over the swollen River Ouse in York, Mr Cain said: “The strongest and most probable line of inquiry being pursued by police is that Megan, affected by alcohol, has entered the river.”

He added: “On balance, this presents as a group of young friends on a night out that is likely to have ended in tragedy.”

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Miss Roberts, who is from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, and lived in the Clifton area of York, was last seen in the early hours of Thursday following a night out.

But it was only when family and friends realised earlier this week that she was missing that the alarm was raised.

North Yorkshire Police have studied CCTV footage and interviewed Miss Roberts' friends in an effort to trace her last movements.

Today a police diver was scouring the river bank close to the Lendal Bridge, near where Miss Roberts was last captured on CCTV.

There had been suggestions that Miss Roberts had expressed some concern about being followed by a stalker shortly before she disappeared but the police said there was “no evidence to indicate foul play”.

Miss Roberts worked as a barmaid at the Lamb and Lion Inn in York during the summer and its manager described her as “very police and friendly”.

In a prepared statement Mr Cain said: "Megan Roberts has now been missing for almost a week. Her disappearance was reported to police by her mother on Monday 27 January 2014 after she had not been in contact with a family or friends for a number of days.

“Understandably there have been growing and grave concerns for her safety which has triggered a great deal of police activity, and interest from the media and the public.

“Some of that activity has played out on social media and has led to a number of theories about her fate including potential links to the Claudia Lawrence case.

“It is very important, not least for Megan’s family and friends, to deal with the facts as they currently present. Those facts are based on evidence resulting from a variety of police enquiries to date.

“It has been established that Megan was one of a group of young adults - all of who were friends - who had been drinking for several hours prior to leaving Popworld night club around 2.10am on Thursday 23, January.

“All in the group including Megan were heavily affected by alcohol. That group whilst together were widely spread out as they made their way from Popworld across Lendal Bridge to McDonalds.

“Having separated, part of the group ran down Tanners Moat, in front of The Maltings public house towards the river looking for the others.

“Megan through the effects of alcohol was the last in the group and bumped into some of the cycle racks as she followed others. CCTV evidence doesNOT show Megan running back up the same street with the others to rejoin the main group.

“All members of the group concerned have been traced and spoken to at length by the police. There is nothing at this stage to indicate that any member of that group of friends or anybody else is directly responsible for Megan’s disappearance.

“A range of other police enquiries, including investigating theories described on social media sites, have been undertaken by a range of police resources including detectives. The results of which does NOT indicate that Megan’s disappearance is the result of any criminal activity.

“Consequently the strongest and most probable line of enquiry being pursued by police is that Megan, affected by alcohol, has entered the river. Clearly we will not be in a position to definitively to confirm this to be the case until Megan is found.

“The possibility still exists that Megan is elsewhere safe and well, but realistically given the passage of time, such a possibility is increasingly remote.

“I emphasise that there is no evidence to indicate foul play of criminality and certainly NO evidence to link Megan’s disappearance to the Claudia Lawrence case.

“On balance, this presents as a group of young friends on a night out that is likely to have ended in tragedy.

“Our primary emphasis will centre on the continual search of the river and the surrounding area using specialist search resources.

"We continue to support Megan’s family with specially trained officers.”

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Friend of missing student tweeted 'probably gonna get murdered tonight' after 'creepy guy' followed them on night out

1EmailPolice searching river for missing Megan Roberts as texts and tweets from her an pal Rockie Thorley reveal both were worried by attentions of "creepy" man 

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Megan Roberts missing: Recap as police hunt continues for student not seen in five days

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For the latest news on Megan's disappearance visit here.

5:56 pm

With darkness falling, it now appears the dive teams have left the river.

The York Press is reporting that police divers left the water at about 4.20pm.

Members of the public were watching as the divers made their way out of the water.

More searches are expected to be carried out tomorrow.

4:11 pm

Police hunting for the missing university student say there is "nothing to suggest" a stalker or any other criminal activity was responsible for her disappearance.

Officers searching for Megan Roberts have now ruled out any criminal activity, and are continuing to focus on the River Ouse in York.

Superintendent Phil Cain said: "We are exploring with friends who are aware of a Twitter message, which was commenting around a male in a bar where Megan was at the time.

"Friends are convinced there was nothing to suggest Megan was being stalked at that stage. We do not believe that is connected to Megan's disappearance.

"At this moment in time there's no suggestion of any criminality whatsoever and we are treating this as a missing from home."

3:09 pm

We understand an area near Lendal Bridge on the River Ouse in York has been sealed off by police.

A marine unit has been scouring the river all day as part of the search for missing Megan.

Lendal Bridge is just a few hundred metres from where she was last seen in Popworld bar in the city centre.

1:11 pm

North Yorks Police are not expecting to give any more media updates today.

It is understood CCTV footage will only be released if they feel it will help the case.

Meanwhile, the police marine unit, including divers, continue to search the River Ouse in York

12:10 pm

Here's a picture of the police searching the River Ouse today from BBC reporter Danny Savage.

Police looking for missing student Megan Roberts focusing on river in centre of York. pic.twitter.com/FercQA0uN8

— Danny Savage (

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Fears grow for university student missing for five days

Megan Roberts was last seen at the Popworld bar on George Hudson Street in York Photo: PA By Miranda Prynne, News Reporter

8:09AM GMT 28 Jan 2014

Police are searching for a missing university student whose disappearance five days ago after a night out with friends has been described as “very out of character”.

Fears are growing for Megan Roberts who was reported missing by her mother on Monday morning after concerned friends raised the alarm.

The 20-year-old student at York St John University, who is originally from Wetherby, West Yorks, vanished on a night out in York city centre last week.

She was last seen at about 2am on Thursday in Popworld bar on George Hudson Street about a mile from the home of university chef Claudia Lawrence whose disappearance almost five years ago remains a mystery.

After leaving the bar the group “went their separate ways” and Miss Roberts never returned home.

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There has been no sign of activity on the usually “prolific” Facebook user’s profile since last Wednesday night.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “Nobody has heard from Megan since, which is very out of character and officers are very concerned for her safety.

"Police are appealing for anyone who has seen Megan since the early hours of Thursday morning or knows where she is now, to contact them urgently.

"They are also appealing to Megan herself to contact her friends, family or the police to let them know she is safe."

Friends tried phoning and texting the art history student but after receiving no reply alerted her mother Jackie Roberts.

Ms Roberts wrote on Facebook: “Anyone with any info please get in touch. We’re worried sick.”

Miss Roberts’ friend Rockie Alanah Thorley wrote on Facebook yesterday: “Her phone has been off since Wednesday night. We all assumed she went home for the weekend or went to see her ex and her phone had died.

“When all her friends spoke last night and realised nobody had got in touch we became concerned as it is very out of character for her. So we contacted her mum.

“She then didn’t turn up to her lecture this morning and we reported it. It’s been discovered that it is likely she didn’t go to her own house on Wednesday night.”

Others discussed her disappearance on Twitter.

One wrote: “I didn’t leave with her but she was with people when I left. I just don’t understand.”

Inspector Andy Farrar of North Yorkshire Police said officers were trying to trace Megan using CCTV footage.

He said: “At the moment it is purely a missing from home enquiry, there is nothing to suggest anything else. We are in the early stages of the investigation.

“We are searching the local area in relation to the places where she lives and who she was out with. We are doing the preliminary investigation and speaking to the last people she saw.”

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Police searching for missing university student focus on river

Megan Roberts was last seen at the Popworld bar on George Hudson Street in York Photo: PA By Hayley Dixon, and agencies

6:43PM GMT 28 Jan 2014

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Police hunting for a missing university student are focusing their search on the river which runs through the city where she disappeared.

Megan Roberts, 20, was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of Thursday morning going toward the bridge with a group of friends, but when they appeared on the other side of the river she was not there.

The York St John University student has not been seen since but friends and family only realised yesterday that she was missing.

Police are searching the bank of the River Ouse in York and are reviewing CCTV footage.

Only a week before she disappeared Miss Roberts had tweeted that she and a friend Rockie Thorley, who was also out her on the night she disappeared, were followed by a man around the pubs of York, who then sat beside them staring.

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On January 16 she wrote: "Can't believe a guy just followed us from one pub to another and came and sat down next to us, staring at us like it was completely fine"

Miss Thorley continued the thread: "Megan has gone to the toilet and this creepy guy keeps staring at me and winking, probably gonna get murdered tonight and it's only 8pm yolo"

And then: "Me and Megan got up to leave and creepy guy asked us where we were going, even though he hasn't spoken to us all night....Ergh creep"

Later still: "Sat in a different pub and the creepy guy has just turned up and sat with us and said 'can't believe you here'. Wtf go away creep"

Then lastly: "The bar staff have just noticed our stalker and come to tell us that they won't be serving him anymore and not to worry we are safe :') cute"

Miss Roberts was reported missing by her mother yesterday morning after a friend raised concerns, North Yorkshire Police said.

A force spokeswoman said she was last seen at around 2am on Thursday in the Popworld bar in George Hudson Street, having gone out with friends on Wednesday evening.

CCTV footage shows Miss Roberts with a group of people on the corner of Rougher Street near Lendal Bridge at around 2.20am. The group were seen a short time later at the other side of the bridge, on Museum Street, but the student was not with them, police said.

Officers are attempting to trace her movements after she was last seen on CCTV.

Police are searching the riverbank in the city centre and an underwater search unit has been deployed, a force spokeswoman added.

Superintendent Phil Cain said: "We are very concerned for Megan's welfare and are urging the public to help us establish her movements in the early hours of Thursday 23 January 2014.

"As with all missing persons inquiries we are doing everything we can to locate Megan and make sure she is safe and well.

"Her disappearance and the fact that she has not had any contact with her family and friends for almost five days now is extremely unlike her and adds to our concern.

"Megan's family are understandably very distressed by her disappearance and I would appeal for anyone who has any information at all about where she might be to get in touch with the police as soon as possible."

Miss Roberts is described as around 5ft 6in and of medium build with long dark brown hair. When last seen she was wearing a cream knee-length dress which had large brown and orange flowers on it and black plimsolls-type shoes.

Police said that specially trained officers are supporting the missing student's family, and have dismissed the suggestion that she was being stalked.

Superintendent Phil Cain said: "We are exploring with friends who are aware of a Twitter message, which was commenting around a male in a bar where Megan was at the time.

"Friends are convinced there was nothing to suggest Megan was being stalked at that stage. We do not believe that is connected to Megan's disappearance.

"At this moment in time there's no suggestion of any criminality whatsoever and we are treating this as a missing from home."

Among those who have expressed their concern for the Miss Roberts is Peter Lawrence – the father of Claudia Lawrence, the university chef who went missing in York in 2009.

Mr Lawrence's spokesman, Martin Dales, said: "I know Peter's thoughts and prayers are very much with the family and friends of Megan Roberts.

"The 100-plus hours between when she was last seen early last Thursday morning and the reporting today makes it very difficult for those looking for her, whether police, family or friends as the first few hours of being missing are critical.

"We hope that she, and any member of the public with information, will make contact if she can – 116 000 is the Freephone number of Missing People who will confidentially pass on messages – and that she will return safely to her family and friends as soon as she can."

No trace of Miss Lawrence has ever been found and detectives believe she has been murdered.

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Missing student warned of 'creepy man' who was following her into pubs

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Student Loan Sale Nets Government £160m

The loans, which were taken out between 1990 and 1998, are sold off for a fraction of their value to help cut the nation's debt. 9:12am UK, Monday 25 November 2013

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Shocking CCTV shows moment American student attacked with glass bottle for 'not being local'

23 Oct 2013 10:19Francesco Hounye, 22, suffered serious injuries and has been scarred for life after he was set upon by five Asian men just three days after arriving in the UK from Florida

 

This shocking CCTV footage shows the moment an American student was attacked with a bottle by a gang of thugs simply because he 'wasn't local'.

Francesco Hounye, 22, was set upon by five Asian men as he walked home from a night out with a friend, just three days after arriving in the UK from Florida.

CCTV shows the gang smash a glass bottle in his face before chasing him and repeatedly punching and kicking him.

Police have now released footage of the attack, which happened around 20 past midnight on June 17 in Commercial Road, east London, in a bid to trace the suspects.

Detectives say Mr Hounye, who had been on a night out in the Brick Lane area with a 23-year-old who he was staying with, was targeted because he was "obviously not local".

The video shows the pair walking back to the friend's home in Shadwell when they were confronted by the gang.

Following a heated exchange, one of the suspects grabbed a bottle the victim was drinking from and smashed it in his face.

As Mr Hounye tried to escape, the men chased after him and continued to beat him up before fleeing.

The victim suffered deep slash wounds to his head and right ear as well as internal injuries and a chipped tooth.

He was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he received 23 stitches and will now be scarred for life.

Mr Hounye said: "As a result of this incident I am now scared to go out on my own in London. I am a visitor to the UK and was considering continuing my studies here but this incident has made me think twice.

"I feel very emotional about the whole situation. I also now face the rest of my life with the permanent scarring that will be left on my face as a result of this attack.

"Every time I look in the mirror from now on I will be reminded of this incident."

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Ben Mott, said: "We believe the suspects picked a fight with the victim as he was obviously not from the local area and they took exception to the fact that he was a bit different.

"The victim has an Italian accent, his own style of dress and mannerisms and, when challenged by the Asian males, answered them back.

"They retaliated by grabbing the bottle and launching a vicious attack that has left him scarred for life. He had come to the UK to enhance his studies and has been left so shocked and horrified by what happened that he feels unsafe and is unsure if he wants to stay here.

"The CCTV footage is exceptionally clear and I believe the suspects to be local. I would ask people to please look closely at the faces of the attackers and help us identify them. I am positive someone would know who they are from looking at the footage."

The suspects are described as Asian and aged in their late teens to early 20s. They are possibly Bengali.

The man who used the bottle was wearing a red and white striped short-sleeved top with black trousers, white trainers and a large watch.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Tower Hamlets CID on 020 7275 4546 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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