Fresh appeal for information regarding Elm man Terry McSpadden 18 years after he disappeared - having last been seen in Locomotive pub in Wisbech

Cold case detectives are appealing for information 18 years after “loving father” Terry McSpadden disappeared from Elm.

Terry, 24, was a father to two young children and was well-known in the Wisbech area where he lived and worked, had friends and socialised in local pubs.

Described as reliable, hard-working and dedicated to his two children - who were aged three and one at the time - he was last seen in the early hours of Friday, March 2, 2007, withdrawing cash at Tesco having spent the evening in the Locomotive pub in Wisbech.

The electronic tag he was wearing for a recent minor offence last placed him at an address in Outwell Road, Elm, where he was staying with a friend, later the same morning at 8.43am.

He has not been seen or heard from since. Initially, his case was treated as a missing person, but inquiries led officers to raise it to murder.

His body has never been found but in 2012 a man was charged. The case was dismissed by the judge who said there was not enough evidence to take him to trial.

Subsequent reviews and a 2014 Crimestoppers appeal offering a £5,000 reward did not generate any significant new leads.

Meanwhile, an inquest in 2016 recorded an open verdict into Terry’s death, as a coroner found that he was likely to have died on the day he disappeared.

And although police say that new calls have come in, none so far have identified new lines of inquiry.

Officers have launched this new appeal in the hope of finding new information, including regarding his bike which was never found and which they believe could help them understand what happened.

Andy Guy, Norfolk Police’s cold case manager, said: “Terry’s family including his mother and two children have never had closure. They have no idea of where he is, what happened to him, or why.

“They have lived with this grief and uncertainty for 18 years. While this is a long time ago I have no doubt there are people out there who do know, or suspect, what happened to Terry.

"I understand that people may not have wished to engage with the police in 2007 but having knowledge of what happened to Terry may lay heavy on someone’s conscience and for Terry, his mother, and children, now would be the time to disclose that information.”

Mr Guy said - as with all cold cases - they remain open to new leads and information.

“Even the smallest piece of information could be significant in helping to understand the events that led to Terry’s disappearance,” he added.

“We are also keen to understand what may have happened to his black Hammerite, hand-painted, ‘Giant’ mountain bike which was never recovered. Terry did not drive so used his bike for local transport.

"Whether it was sold on or disposed of in any other way is something that has never been understood and could help build a picture of the circumstances.”

Mr Guy said the force believes Terry came to harm due to the actions of a third party.

“Terry was an attentive and loving father which makes any hypothesis that he simply upped and left the area all the more unlikely and there has been no proof of life after 2 March 2007,” he said.

“We believe he came to harm by the actions of a third party and we want that person to be brought before the courts so justice can be secured for Terry and his family.

“If anyone does have any information that could help the investigation please do come forward and share it with us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Norfolk Police, quoting crime reference 36/39431/16, by calling 01953 423819, emailing unsolvedcasereviews@norfolk.police.uk or by visiting the police website.

Alternatively, contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org