Cops hunting for missing teenager Gaia Pope seized a car belonging to her friend’s uncle
POLICE hunting for missing teenager Gaia Pope seized a car belonging to her friend’s uncle.
Forensic officers made a midnight swoop on the prized VW Golf of Paul Elsey, 49.
They were also trying to trace Mr Elsey who lives at the house where student Gaia was last seen in a distressed state nine days ago.
Yesterday, his father, Greg, said he did not know where he was.
But he claimed his son could prove to police he was working away when Gaia, 19, disappeared.
He added: “But now, all of a sudden, they’re looking to speak to him again. They came round and searched my house last night and took his car away at midnight.”
Gaia has been missing since turning up at the home carpenter Mr Elsey shares with his 71-year-old mother, Rosemary Dinch, in Swanage, Dorset.
She was in a “distressed and agitated” state and started to strip off, according to Ms Dinch, grandmother of Gaia’s pal Nathan Elsey.
Police believe Gaia, who has epilepsy and PTSD, has come to harm.
They arrested Ms Dinch and aspiring actor Nathan, 19, on suspicion of murder but released them under investigation.
Yesterday, officers were looking for Paul Elsey, who has not been seen since telling his family he “going out with a mate” on Tuesday evening.
His dad, Greg, 69, from Romsey, Hants, said he had been staying with him since police began searching his home.
He added: “We haven’t heard from him because his mobile was dead and he left it behind. A mate picked him up. We don’t know where he is.”
One neighbour said: “His car is his pride and joy, all he does is drink, smoke and clean his car. He smokes like a train.”
Gaia Pope has not been seen since vanishing last Tuesday
Timeline leading up to Gaia's disappearance: The last known whereabouts of Gaia Pope
GAIA Pope went missing on Tuesday, November 7 - here's what we know about her whereabouts on that day.
- Gaia was seen buying an ice cream at 2.55pm at St Michael's Garage on Valley Road, Swanage. She had been travelling with a family member between Langton Matravers and Swanage.
- At 3.39pm she was caught on CCTV running down Morrison Road, Swanage, two miles away. Her family say the image is "frightening" because they don't know the story behind why she was running.
- Rosemary Dinch claims Gaia came to her house in Manor Garden, Morrison Road, Swanage, at 4pm. The 71-year-old was later arrested alongside her grandson Nathan Elsey on suspicion of Gaia's murder. They were released under investigation.
Meanwhile, police have issued new CCTV footage of Gaia, wearing a black jacket, buying an ice cream an hour before she was last seen.
Police divers also searched a pond at a nature reserve near Swanage.
Gaia’s frantic family renewed their appeals for help on social media.
Her mum, Natasha, from Langton Matravers, near Swanage, said she feared Gaia had been kidnapped.
She urged people to check “the back of vans, garages, anywhere Gaia might be hidden or could be kept against her will”.
