Nicola Bulley ‘painted in unfair light’ by cops who ‘shared her personal struggles to shift focus’, friend says

: "I feel angry for Nikki. She’s a beautiful, kind, loving person. One of the best kind of friends you could wish for.

"This has painted her in an unfair light. I think the police have done this to shift the focus onto this rather than on them and their lack of progress."

They also criticised detectives' current theory that Nicola fell into the River Wyre while out walking.

The fuming friend added: "I think they want people to buy into their theory that she went into the river. I do fear that the focus will be on this now rather than trying to find Nikki.

"We really need to focus on finding out what has happened and where she has gone. Focus needs to be given to the areas not covered by CCTV and following up on those dash cams."

They also had choice words for amateur sleuths who have tried to join the search, raging: "I think the are taking the police away from what they need to be doing and wasting valuable resources."

In a statement February 15, Lancashire Police revealed that Nicola had been categorised as a high risk missing person due to her "vulnerabilities".

They explained that these included "significant issues with alcohol" brought about by her struggles with the menopause.

They also revealed that officers had attended her family home just weeks before her disappearance and that the force had referred itself to the police watchdog over the contact.

It comes as investigators have faced huge backlash for sharing details that could "destroy" Nicola's reputation.

Broadcaster Fern Britton, 65, said in a tweet: "I am uncomfortable with the latest news suggesting that Nicola Bulley has an issue with alcohol and menopause.

"The undertone is that she maybe ‘a bit unstable’ or perhaps even ‘not in her right mind'.

"Too easy to write a woman off like this. What lies behind it?"

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It comes as...

• Cops reveal ‘significant issues’ with alcohol & menopause had caused partner Paul Ansell ‘real challenges’
• Police say they’re still probing ‘incident’ that saw police called to mum’s home before she vanished
• An influencer has been arrested and fined after joining the search
• Follow our blog for the latest news

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Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy also questioned the cops' decision to publicly disclose the private information, describing it as "deeply troubling".

Cops were even called in to explain their decision to the Home Secretary amid the uproar.

Meanwhile, Nicola's family recently released a statement in which they urged her to reach out and revealed their hope that she is still alive.

Nicola has been missing since January 27.

She vanished while walking her dog in St Michael's on Wyre, .

Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith confirmed that the force's "main working hypothesis" remains that Nicola fell in the river.

But she revealed two other theories for her disappearance - Nicola leaving the area voluntarily and third party involvement.

DS Smith said: "There is not a single piece of information or evidence to suggest there is any third-party involvement."

There is also nothing to suggest Nicola left the field voluntarily.

Asked if she hoped to find her alive, DS Smith said: "I hope with all my heart that we find Nicola Bulley alive more than anything."

However, cops have faced criticism for Nicola's loved ones, as well as external experts, for leaning too hard on their initial theory.

Underwater search expert Peter Faulding recently told TalkTV that his entire approach to the hunt for Nicola would have been different if he had known she was high risk.

Mr Faulding, who had been helping Lancashire Police with the search effort, slammed cops for not sharing enough information with his team.