Esme Smith's father 'worried sick' about missing daughter

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/21/esme-smith-father-worried-sick-missing-daughter

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A Nato commander has spoken of his fears for his 14-year-old daughter who has been missing for nine days.

Esme Smith was last seen by friends after school in her home town of Farnham, Surrey, on Thursday 12 September. She told them she was going to Woking, 16 miles away, and then to a party.

Instead the teenager changed out of her school uniform and caught a train from Aldershot just after 4pm and arrived at London Waterloo about an hour later. A CCTV image has been released by detectives which shows the teenager walking down steps near Charing Cross station in London at about 5.30pm that day.

Esme, described as an "extrovert, vivacious, normal" teenager, has not been seen by her family or made contact with them since.

Her father, Mark, who works at Nato's Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, said the family had no idea where she was.

"We are worried sick. She's just gone to ground. We're baffled. We are working very closely with the police and doing everything through them. They are doing a great job," he told the Daily Mail.

The newspaper reported that Smith has been decorated for service in Afghanistan, the Gulf war and Northern Ireland and has been commander of medical planning at the Norwegian base since March last year.

Detective Inspector Martin Stables, of Surrey police's missing persons unit, which released the CCTV images, said: "It's now over a week since Esme went missing and it is an anxious time for the family as they wait for news. I am hoping these latest pictures may draw more information from the public about where Esme may be."

As the search continues, more than 5,000 people have "liked" a Facebook page called Find Esme Smith, dedicated to raising awareness of her disappearance.

One person wrote: "Esme, look how many people care!" Another wrote: "God bless this girl and get her home safe."

Esme's sister Sian this week made an emotional appeal for her safe return.

"I think she's maybe met somebody out there or planned to meet somebody. We just don't know at the moment, and that's the worrying thing. She's not in trouble. We just want her back. We are incredibly worried."

In previously released images, CCTV captured at Waterloo shows Esme wearing a white flowery dress and a denim jacket. She was carrying a black school bag and black floral bag with chain straps. It is believed she also took with her a black dress which has a sheer mesh top.

Stables said: "My team are carrying out extensive inquiries in and around the local and London areas to find Esme, and anyone who has seen a girl matching her description or who knows about her whereabouts should call Surrey police. Similarly, Esme, if you see any of the media appeals please let us know that you are safe and well."

Esme is white, 1.6 metres tall (5ft 3in), and of slim to medium build, with shoulder-length brown hair that may be tied in a bun. She has brown eyes, a tanned complexion and wears size six shoes.

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