18/10/2023

Renewed Appeal For Help To Trace 21-Year-Old Lee Johnston

The PSNI have issued a renewed appeal for help in tracing the whereabouts of 21-year-old high-risk missing person Lee Johnston, from the Coleraine area.

Lee was first reported missing to police on the evening of Friday, 13th October and police said that it is "out of character" for Lee to not to have been in contact with his family.

The new appeal follows an earlier appeal for information which lead to a confirmed sighting of Lee in a supermarket on the Orritor Road in Cookstown between 16.52 and 16.59 on Saturday 07 October. CCTV shows him going through a checkout.

Lee's disappearance has been escalated to a criminal investigation. Mid Ulster District Commander Superintendent Michael O'Loan said: "Today we are issuing photographs of this last sighting in an effort to jog people's memories. Lee was also believed to have been in the Mullagh Park area of Maghera earlier that day at around 4pm. He also has links to both the Ballymena and Coleraine areas.

"He has short brown hair, blue eyes and around 5 foot 9 inches in height, and was last seen wearing a blue hooded-top and tracksuit bottoms.

"I am appealing directly to Lee to make contact with the police, family or friends so that we know you are safe and well.

"I am appealing to anyone who was travelling through the Mullagh Park area in Maghera between 3pm and 4pm on Saturday, 7th October to think if they saw Lee or anything unusual. If you did, please report it to police immediately.

"I would also appeal to anyone with dash-cam, CCTV or mobile footage that could help our enquiries, to also make contact with police on 101, quoting reference number 1782 13/10/23."

A 33-year-old man and 31-year-old woman arrested and questioned by detectives investigating the disappearance have been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries.

If you know of Lee's whereabouts or believe you may have seen him, please make contact with police on 101, quoting reference number 1782 13/10/23 or online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers.uk.org.

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