Concern Mounts For Missing Portsmouth Couple

Police are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a young couple who have gone missing from their homes in Portsmouth.

Melissa Cheatle, 13, left her home in Crown Street around 10am on August 5 with her 21-year-old boyfriend James Chester.

The couple's mobiles are both switched off. Melissa, who recently changed her surname from Peck, does not have access to any money and does not have any belongings with her.

She is also not usually away from home overnight without telling her parents and police said that the families of both Melissa and James were growing concerned.

Melissa is described as 5ft 3ins tall, of medium build, with long, straight, dark brown hair. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a blue vest top, a black blouse with silver lines on it and a black, knee-length, flared skirt.

James is described as white, 5ft 9ins to 5ft 11ins, of medium build, with short brown hair. At the time of the disappearance, he was wearing dark trousers, a black short-sleeved T-shirt and a black hooded zip-up top. He was also carrying a black rucksack.

PC Adam Robson said: "It's very out of character for Melissa to be away from home without telling her parents and they're growing very concerned. I'd appeal to Melissa and James to contact police urgently.

"We also need to speak to anyone who has seen or heard from James or Melissa or who knows where they might be."

(KMcA)